Sophie Ellis-Bextor, the beloved British pop star known for hits like “Murder on the Dancefloor,” is warning her fans about a concerning scam making the rounds on social media.
In recent Instagram stories, Ellis-Bextor alerted followers that fake ads circulating feature footage of her alongside an artificially generated voiceover claiming to be the singer herself.
CREDIT: Sophie Ellis-Bextor/Instagram Stories
As the musician explained, these ads should not be trusted unless shared directly from her verified Instagram account.
“Please don’t trust anything I don’t post on my own Insta.”
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Her hit becomes the target of an online scam.
Ellis-Bextor’s message comes after her breakthrough single “Murder on the Dancefloor” saw a resurgence in popularity thanks to its inclusion in the Netflix series Saltburn. However, it seems some scammers have now capitalized on the song’s renewed fame to mislead fans.
After other users notified Ellis-Bextor of the fake ads, she followed up with another post stressing “these adverts are a scam.” Reportedly, the scams encouraged Instagram users to input their credit card details, most likely in an effort to steal personal information from unsuspecting viewers. This sort of deceptive advertising using artificially generated voiceovers is concerning, as the AI voices can sound quite realistic and convince people they’re interacting with the actual celebrity.
Read more: Cher wants restrictions on AI voice cloning to protect musicians
It’s understandable why fans would want to trust ads seemingly featuring Ellis-Bextor after her amazing career spanning over two decades. However, as technology advances to convincingly mimick human voice and image, more scams like this are likely to emerge. The takeaway here is simple – be wary of all online ads, and never input financial details unless you’re absolutely certain the site is legitimate and secure. When in doubt, it’s always best to verify suspicious claims directly with the source if possible, like Ellis-Bextor recommends for her Instagram account.
Thanks to Netflix, Sophie Ellis-Bextor conquers the US
On a more positive note, the true Sophie Ellis-Bextor has been delighting existing and new fans alike with live performances of “Murder on the Dancefloor” following its unexpected viral moment. She recently played the track at both the BAFTA Film Awards and on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, introducing her classic tune to an American audience who may be hearing it for the first time.
Ellis-Bextor has also announced a string of North American tour dates this spring to capitalize on the song’s newfound success stateside.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s 2024 North American tour dates are:
MAY
30 – San Francisco, CA @ August Hall
31 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
JUNE
3 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
4 – Boston, MA @ Royale Boston
5 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
6 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall [SOLD OUT]
8 – Toronto, ON @ The Danforth Music Hall
Kicking off May 30th in San Francisco, the singer will treat audiences in cities like San Diego, Washington D.C., Boston, Philadelphia and Toronto to favorite hits throughout her storied catalog. It seems like the perfect opportunity for those who discovered Ellis-Bextor thanks to Saltburn to experience her infectious live energy firsthand.
Tickets are available now on Ticketmaster ahead of what is sure to be a fun, danceable tour celebrating one artist’s ability to stay relevant after all these years in the music industry. Fans both old and new will not want to miss Sophie Ellis-Bextor lighting up stages across America this spring.
