Egyptian Artist Edward Warns of Identity Fraud Following Personal Experience
Egyptian artist Edward has disclosed that he was a victim of an online scam in which an impersonator pretended to be fellow 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 unknown number claiming to be Shadi Khafaga, requesting financial assistance due to purported hardships. Moved by compassion, Edward transferred the requested amount via the "Insta Pay" app, only to be blocked by the sender immediately after completing the transaction, realizing he had fallen victim to identity theft.
Following the incident, Edward contacted Shadi Khafaga directly to confirm the situation, which revealed that Khafaga had no connection to the scam. Initial investigations indicated that the impersonator had used Khafaga's name to approach multiple artists in attempts to commit financial fraud.
Edward promptly shared his experience with his followers on social media, cautioning against such scams and describing the rise of these tactics as "concerning" and indicative of a "discouraging reality."
In response, Shadi Khafaga has initiated legal proceedings, announcing on his official "Facebook" page that he will take legal action against the impersonator. Khafaga urged anyone who has experienced similar situations to reach out to him to gather necessary information for the case.
Khafaga also explained in his post how to differentiate between his genuine account and that of the impersonator, noting that "his only known number ends in (010)" and urging everyone to "verify the identity of anyone who contacts them before engaging."
