Egyptian Artist Edward Warns of Online Impersonation Scam
Egyptian artist Edward has reported being a victim of an online scam, where an individual impersonated fellow artist Shady Khafaga. This incident underscores the growing prevalence of digital fraud targeting public figures.
According to Edward, he received a message from an unknown number claiming to be Shady Khafaga, requesting financial assistance due to alleged personal difficulties. Motivated by compassion, Edward transferred the requested funds via the "Insta Pay" app, only to discover that the number was blocked shortly after the transaction, revealing that he had been deceived.
Following the incident, Edward reached out to Shady Khafaga directly for clarification, who confirmed he had no involvement in the scam. Preliminary investigations indicated that the impersonator had exploited Khafaga's name to target multiple artists for financial gain.
Edward took to social media to share his experience, cautioning his followers against such fraudulent practices and describing the rise of these scams as "concerning" and indicative of a "disturbing reality".
In response, Shady Khafaga announced on his official Facebook page that he is pursuing legal action against the impersonator. He encouraged anyone who has encountered similar situations to contact him to assist in gathering information for the case.
Khafaga also provided guidance on identifying his authentic account, stating that "his only verified number ends with (010)" and urged individuals to confirm the identity of anyone reaching out before engaging with them.
