Egyptian Artist Edward Warns of Identity Theft Following Cyber Fraud Incident
Egyptian artist Edward has disclosed that he became a victim of a cyber scam, where an unknown person posed as artist Shadi Khafaga. This incident underscores the increasing prevalence of digital fraud involving the names of public figures.
According to Edward, he received a message from an unfamiliar number claiming to be Shadi Khafaga, requesting financial assistance due to a difficult situation. Out of humanitarian concern, Edward transferred the requested amount via the "Insta Pay" app, only to discover that the number was blocked immediately after the transaction, revealing he had fallen victim to identity theft.
Following the incident, Edward contacted Shadi Khafaga directly to verify the situation, where Khafaga confirmed he was not involved. Initial investigations indicated that the impersonator had exploited Khafaga's name to contact multiple artists in an attempt to commit financial fraud.
Edward promptly shared his experience with his social media followers, warning against such practices, describing the rise of these scams as "concerning" and a reflection of a "frustrating reality."
In response, Shadi Khafaga announced legal action against the identity thief via his official Facebook page, urging anyone who has faced similar situations to reach out for necessary information to pursue the case.
Khafaga also provided guidance on distinguishing his authentic account from the fraudster's, noting that "his known number ends with (010)" and urged everyone to verify identities before engaging with anyone.
