A Quebec church issued a warning on Wednesday after learning that a fraudster had masqueraded as an actor playing Jesus Christ on the streaming service Prime Video, resulting in at least one victim being scammed in the province.
The church’s statement described the scheme as a deceptive ploy in which the perpetrator claimed to be the performer behind the religious role, reaching out to viewers who had watched the series. The individual allegedly used the false identity to solicit money, leading to the loss experienced by the identified victim.
Authorities have reiterated that scammers frequently adopt fabricated celebrity personas to gain the trust of streaming‑platform audiences. By presenting themselves as recognizable figures from popular shows, they aim to exploit the familiarity and goodwill associated with well‑known characters. The warning from the church aligns with broader advisories issued by law enforcement agencies concerning the use of fake identities in online fraud.
Officials advise the public to verify the authenticity of any contact that claims to be linked to a known actor or production. They recommend contacting the official channels of the streaming service or the production company directly before providing any personal or financial information. The church urged its members and the wider community to remain vigilant and report any similar attempts to the appropriate authorities.
While the exact method of communication used by the fraudster was not disclosed, the incident underscores the growing sophistication of scams that blend entertainment content with illicit financial requests. The church’s alert serves as a reminder that even well‑intentioned viewers of religious programming can become targets if they do not confirm the legitimacy of unexpected outreach.
The case remains under investigation, and the victim’s identity has been kept confidential. Law enforcement continues to monitor for additional reports of comparable scams involving streaming platforms and celebrity impersonations.