COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) — Think about believing certainly one of your favourite artists has reached out to you on-line, solely to seek out out that individual was an imposter making an attempt to take your cash. That’s precisely what occurred to a Colorado Springs girl.
For Maureen Garrison, the thrill of listening to from a rock star ended up costing her. Garrison says she noticed the favored Nineteen Sixties progressive rock band Moody Blues a few occasions in Colorado. Years later, nothing helps her shake off a protracted day just like the timeless sound of the band.
“I [play] it proper after I get dwelling. So I can unwind, take heed to his music and calm down,” mentioned Garrison as she listened to her favourite Moody Blues music, Your Wildest Goals.
In April 2025, she started speaking on-line with an individual who she believed was Justin Hayward, the band’s lead singer,.
“I saved clicking on his Fb posts and at last he reached out to me,” she mentioned. “I appreciated his concert events and I simply wished to speak with him about music.”
The person and Garrison texted backwards and forwards for a few month, however the tone rapidly modified when she began to see the crimson flags.
The individual didn’t comply with by means of on sending Garrison the pictures she requested, and the 2 by no means held a video name. The individual additionally started flirting with Garrison, regardless of Hayward’s marital standing.
They claimed the Moody Blues could be performing in Colorado Springs quickly, however Hayward has no upcoming Colorado tour dates scheduled, according to his official website.
“He mentioned he would play that for me after I go to his subsequent live performance,” Garrison advised News5 Shopper Reporter Kierra Sam as they listened to Gemini Goals collectively.
Garrison mentioned the individual ultimately requested her for cash.
“He mentioned, ‘I actually hate to ask you this, Maureen, however might you assist me with my cellphone invoice?’” mentioned Garrison.
The individual wished $500, however Garrison mentioned she might solely ship $100 on the time.
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“I had purchased an Apple card, and I took an image and despatched it to him. He received that one. Then he saved bugging and bugging for an additional one,” she defined.
She ended up sending two present playing cards, totaling $200, earlier than the individual demanded much more.
“He mentioned, ‘We will’t discuss anymore proper now till you ship me $200 extra.’ After which I spotted that’s it,” she mentioned.
That’s when Garrison blocked the individual’s account and stopped logging onto Fb altogether.
“That scared me sufficient to the place I used to be like no extra,” she mentioned.
Though Garrison misplaced $200, she mentioned she walked away with an essential lesson.
“I’m disillusioned with the individual,” mentioned Garrison. “As a result of I assumed I used to be speaking to certainly one of my favourite band members, and I wasn’t. So, that taught me a lesson: Don’t reply. Don’t search for individuals to speak to in bands and don’t ship them cash.”
Imposter scams are the primary reported rip-off in Colorado as of the primary two quarters of 2025, based on the Federal Commerce Fee.
For those who imagine you’re being focused in an imposter rip-off:
- Report and block the account instantly.
- Name your financial institution to clarify what occurred and ask if the cost could be reversed.
- Report it to authorities.
- Maintain an in depth eye in your credit score report to stop additional damages.
Shopper advocates additionally encourage victims to talk up. Sharing your expertise might stop another person from getting caught in the identical entice. You’ll be able to report any fraudulent experience with the FTC or Federal Bureau of Investigation here.
This text was written by KOAA News5 Shopper Reporter Kierra Sam. Have a narrative? Ship an e mail to kierra.sam@koaa.com.
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