Couple Sentenced to Prison for Celebrity Impersonation Fraud in Skåne

A couple in Skåne has been convicted and sentenced to prison for orchestrating a sophisticated fraud by impersonating Swedish celebrities on social media. The couple contacted eight victims under the guise of famous personalities, gained their trust, and subsequently requested financial help. The victims were deceived into transferring nearly 3.5 million kronor to bank accounts controlled by the couple.

The district court in Hässleholm sentenced the male defendant to 2 years and 10 months in prison and ordered his deportation to his home country. The female defendant received a sentence of 2 years and 4 months, which was reduced due to the court’s consideration of her two young children who would be adversely affected by her imprisonment. Moreover, two other individuals, a man and a woman, were convicted of serious money laundering for facilitating the fraud by allowing their bank accounts to be used to receive the illicit funds.

This case highlights a growing concern over social media-based fraud in Sweden, where perpetrators exploit celebrity impersonation to manipulate victims into financial scams, resulting in substantial monetary losses. The court’s sentencing aims to deter similar crimes and affirm judicial consequences for such deceptive schemes.