PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Scammers posing as WHYY hosts and others are catfishing celebrities in what appears to be an elaborate scheme to get money from famous personalities.
WHYY said it is aware of attempts by scammers posing as the hosts of “Fresh Air,” Terry Gross and Tonya Mosley, as well as other members of the program’s team. The organization said it is working with law enforcement to address the issue.
The catfishing scams came to light earlier this week in a Hollywood Reporter article in which comedian Bruce Vilanch said he was tricked into thinking he was talking to Gross. At one point, he told the magazine he made a “contribution” that he thought was going to the nonprofit.
But the scam did not end there. The catfishers kept prepping for an appearance on “Fresh Air.” Vilanch only realized he’d been scammed when he showed up for a video conference, and Gross wasn’t there.
WHYY and Vilanch aren’t the only victims. The article also noted that Broadway performer and SiriusXM host Seth Rudetsky thought he was preparing to appear on comedian Nikki Glaser’s podcast.
WHYY said it does not accept payment for interviews.
“We take the misuse of our journalists’ and programs’ names seriously and are concerned that scammers are exploiting the trust audiences and guests place in Fresh Air. We are working with law enforcement to address the situation,” WHYY wrote in a statement.
The nonprofit said it is working with law enforcement to address the issue
The nonprofit said it is working with law enforcement to address the issue
