• JBWM
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  • Registered: 2015-10-16
  • Posts: 46

Topic: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

As the person responsible for Joe Bonamassa's official Facebook Page, I'm saddened and angered to have to make this post, but this is a serious problem that needs to be officially addressed.

If anyone claiming to be Joe Bonamassa has contacted you, or someone you know via Facebook or other social media, they are not Joe Bonamassa.

Here's how the scam works:

  • Someone will contact you on Facebook (especially if you are female) typically using Facebook Messenger.

  • They will take their time building your confidence, thanking you for being a fan, etc.

  • They will ask you for your cellphone number, give you theirs (trust us, they're untraceable).

  • Eventually they will tell you they need money, or assistance (which always eventually becomes money).

This scam has been around as long as social media has been around. Almost every (usually male) celebrity has to deal with this, from Sports Heroes to TV & Film stars, and definitely musicians.

Here's a news report about Scammers pretending to be Kid Rock:
http://www.clickondetroit.com/consumer/ … h-facebook

We work closely with Facebook corporate to kill these profiles, but they create them as quickly as we can delete them and will not stop any time soon.

They're easy to spot, if you search Facebook for "Joe Bonamassa", go to the People tab, you will likely see some profiles where they stole Joe's pictures in an attempt to duplicate his profile. The profile is never more than a week old (we do weekly sweeps of these profiles) and typically have only a few (again, usually female) friends.

Notify us if this has happened to you or someone you know, tell your friends and fellow fans, and thanks for helping in any way you can. You can email me directly, it's my first name at JR-Adventures.com
(Never type your email out in a forum, bots could snag it!)

Here's the official page we created to inform Facebook fans they've been the target of a common scam:
http://content.jbonamassa.com/Facebook-Scams.html

Scott Macaluso, JBWM

  • From: New Zealand
  • Registered: 2016-07-15
  • Posts: 76

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

Thanks for the heads up Scott, keep on doing the great job that you are!

  • Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

Awful scam. I assume whoever it is asks for help buying the next 'burst? ;-)

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet
  • JBWM
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  • Registered: 2015-10-16
  • Posts: 46

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

Adrian J wrote:

Awful scam. I assume whoever it is asks for help buying the next 'burst? ;-)

Nope, that would actually sound like Joe!

They usually say (in much worse spelling and grammar than I can fake):

"I can't trust my management, so don't tell them anything about this. They have me locked in a contract and take all my money. I've saved a million dollars and will send it to you in a briefcase for safe keeping, then I'll come to your house, and we can use the money to run away together and start our own label. Will you help me? Good. You'll have to pay the courier to send the briefcase. Their fee is $1000. Send the money to this other person right now"

There's a bunch of variations on the scam, but you see how it goes.

To be clear (and you can read this in about 100 articles about Joe), Bonamassa owns this record label, with a partner he's worked with since he was a boy. He doesn't just get a 'cut' of the profits, thus no way of him getting cheated by his management. When you buy a Joe CD or a concert ticket, the money really does go right to Joe. Anyone on a major label can't say the same!

  • From: Washington State
  • Registered: 2015-08-25
  • Posts: 148

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

I've seen a few friend requests come from "Joe Bonamassa" or some similar name.  Of course I'm sceptical and when I go to my friend requests tab there's nothing there.  Figured it was scammers.

  • JBWM
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  • Posts: 46

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

leanne wrote:

I've seen a few friend requests come from "Joe Bonamassa" or some similar name.  Of course I'm sceptical and when I go to my friend requests tab there's nothing there.  Figured it was scammers.

Oh yea, that's them. No question!

  • From: New Zealand
  • Registered: 2016-07-15
  • Posts: 76

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

Jeepers, just reading it even I'm not gullible enough to fall for that.

  • JBWM
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  • Posts: 46

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

Jane H. wrote:

Thanks for the heads up and the info page JBWM . This one has its own spin but its an old scam theme so it sticks out to me right away. Its generally a fact that things that sound too good to be true never are BUT when it comes to Joe's music and the Bonafamily......rules get broken big_smile

I hate scammers like this. Joe could write a blues song abut them Scammers, Scalpers, Scum
%^&*()*&^%$&*)(_)HGVKJHBHOYUTFRT!!!!!!

Speaking of, I might do a new topic about Scalpers. Trust us, we hate them as much as fans do.

  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

This sounds like some of those Nigerian princes out there.
There was a pretty fascinating episode of This American Life that centered around different types of enforcers.
One of the vignettes was a story about some internet vigilantes that "scam the scammers".
It's pretty fascinating if anyone is interested:
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-a … /enforcers

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • Registered: 2016-08-07
  • Posts: 3

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

Yes beware they used joe b bonamassa...had a feeling it was bogus accepted to see how far he would go, yes very nice offered me a meet and greet, kept asking me for my cell #. Told me he spent the day in the studio and was "over it". HA. At one point he kept pestering me on messenger, told him I had to go so I could get tickets to my favorite blues man.  When his response was..."???? Blues?" Game over he lost.

  • JBWM
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  • Registered: 2015-10-16
  • Posts: 46

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

Since Gregg Allman is going to be on Joe's next cruise, we've been talking with him and his management quite a bit.

Turns out this scam is happening with his fans as well, and it's so bad they made a pinned facebook post about it:
https://www.facebook.com/GreggAllman/po … 8737165698

  • DougH
  • DougH
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  • From: Toronto, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-04-01
  • Posts: 1,699

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

And here since Joe is "old school" with vintage guitars /amps and song choices, I would have thought he'd picked up his "chicks" old school as well.

That's where he spies a "cute bird" in the first couple of rows and sends his Roady out to invite her back for the "back stage party".



(not to make light of those willing to fall for passing out their personal info through a pm)

---------------

(If only I had 1% of Joe's guitar talent)
  • Registered: 2016-08-07
  • Posts: 3

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

Jane H. wrote:

hey welcome to the forum Beckyv. dang, that is too much! there is a special place in Hell for people like that! yikes

Thank you...I am a firm believer in karma

  • From: Washington State
  • Registered: 2015-08-25
  • Posts: 148

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

I've been getting bombarded the past couple days with these friend requests.  It's really getting irritating!

  • From: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
  • Registered: 2011-08-12
  • Posts: 4,614

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

Suratescorts reported.

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...
  • DougH
  • DougH
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  • From: Toronto, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-04-01
  • Posts: 1,699

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

Joe penned an open letter to Facebook complaining about this.

We know Facebook won't listen to his polite rant letter on open Facebook.

But he at least tossed it into the arena.

---------------

(If only I had 1% of Joe's guitar talent)

17 Reply by Lindy Lu (edited by Lindy Lu 2016-12-30 21:08:54)

  • From: Los Angeles, CA
  • Registered: 2010-12-27
  • Posts: 63

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

I recently had one of these jerks direct message me on Twitter~saying he was Joe. He had the same Profile pic and cover page, but had one number added at the end of his account. I knew right away it wasn't Joe because he asked if I had ever seen him in concert!!  LOL REALLY!!   Anyway, I reported it right away and that account was gone in less than 24 hours.  It is imperative that these creeps are reported immediately!!

Keep looking at the bright side~~ Lindy
  • From: Maryland
  • Registered: 2012-05-13
  • Posts: 2,790

Re: Facebook Con-Artists pretending to be Joe Bonamassa

Another one on twitter just showed up https://twitter.com/jbonamassa02