Not too many billionaires are universally liked. People don’t trust Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, for example, and lots of people really seem to dislike that Donald Trump guy. The one billionaire everyone can agree on: Oprah. All hail the Oprah! She’s loved by all because of the way she earned her money: entertaining, sharing information, and just helping people live their best lives. Frankly, Oprah deserves every penny.
Be that as it may, being beloved doesn’t preclude a person from getting targeted in a scam — that influence can be exploited by a certain criminal element. Oprah posted a short video on her Instagram and Twitter accounts on Thursday to warn fans, followers, friends, and families to be aware of somebody posing as her in order to get their money.
Fraud alert! pic.twitter.com/WACnDs04Bc
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) December 21, 2017
“I just wanted you to know that somebody out there is trying to scam you using my name and my avatar on social media, asking for money if you sign up for an OWN account on Instagram,” Oprah said while standing in front of a lovely Christmas tree. (OWN stands for “Oprah Winfrey Network.”) “It’s a fraud!” she added in that delightful and famous Oprah singy/talky voice.
So, to recap, don’t give fake Oprah your money or bank account information, because fake Oprah is the evil Oprah. As expected, Twitter had Oprah’s back.
https://twitter.com/mattwhitlockPM/status/943938571790094337
Humans… So disappointing… Sigh pic.twitter.com/Fpiq53qITP
— BabesWePetitions (@Neli_Ngqulana) December 21, 2017
Y’all know good and darn well mother oprah is solid and didn’t need any of our money!!! Thank you for setting this straight
— ToiRenee (@renee_toi) December 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/redcherryemoji/status/943937318448238592
Thank you for speaking publicly on this Oprah!
— Rich Cruse (@RichOnOWN) December 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/OprahSide/status/943940743390826496
Merry Christmas Oprah! You know you’re doing something well when people start pulling these shenanigans. Grateful to you for creating the #owners and #ownambassadors. Some of my favorite people in the world. Be well
— Brian Wefel (@BrianWefel) December 21, 2017
I knew it…. You never ask for money you always give
— Actor Robert Benn (@Benn1Actor) December 21, 2017
Your Christmas tree is fabulous!
— Zara Anishanslin (@ZaraAnishanslin) December 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/berenice_abby/status/943956871429357568
I hate when this crap happens to people 👿👿👿…smh…but anyway… Merry Christmas, Oprah 🎄🎄🎄!!! Love u bunches!!! 💙💙💙
— Lindsey Shier™ (@LindseyShier86) December 21, 2017