Egyptian Artist Edward Warns Against Identity Theft Following Fraud Incident

Egyptian artist Edward has disclosed that he was a victim of an online fraud scheme, where an unknown individual impersonated fellow artist Shadi Khafaga. This incident underscores the growing prevalence of digital scams that exploit 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 difficult circumstances. Out of compassion, Edward sent the requested amount via the "Insta Pay" app, only to find the number blocked by the caller immediately after the transaction, realizing 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. Preliminary investigations revealed that the impersonator had used Khafaga's name to contact multiple artists in attempts to commit financial fraud.

Edward quickly shared his experience on social media, warning others about such practices, describing the increasing prevalence of these scams as "concerning" and reflecting a "discouraging reality."

In response, Shadi Khafaga announced legal action against the impersonator via his official Facebook page. He urged anyone who has experienced similar situations to reach out for assistance in gathering information for the case.

Khafaga also provided guidance on how to distinguish his authentic account from that of the scammer, noting that "his unique known number ends with (010)" and advising everyone to verify the identity of any contact before engaging.