Some lowlifes really know how to pick their target, and this time, they went after the King of Country‘s name to do it.
A Texas couple is out $10,000 after falling victim to a Facebook scam that used George Strait‘s name and the promise of a benefit concert for flood victims to steal their hard-earned money. The couple, who spoke to News4SanAntonio under the condition of anonymity, thought they were doing something good by supporting a fundraiser concert in Boerne, Texas, supposedly scheduled for July 27. What they didn’t know was that they were stepping into a trap set by a scammer with a pretty damn convincing act.
RELATED: George Strait Will Play “Strait to the Heart” Benefit Concert to Raise Money for Flood Victims
The Facebook post advertised a concert to benefit Texas flood victims, allegedly featuring none other than George Strait. The page looked official. The wording matched the tone of Strait’s real site. Even the graphics were cloned with uncanny precision.
“I got online and started checking different websites,” the victim recalled. “Not a single mention of a scam based around this. Went to [George Strait’s] website, looked at wording and it was the same. Graphics, it was the same.”
Red flag? Not yet. The scammer, posing as a ticket rep, responded to the couple’s emails in detail, answering questions like a seasoned pro. “The person at the other end of email, back and forth, seemed legit,” the victim said. They were eventually convinced enough to wire over $10,000 for four concert tickets.
That’s when everything fell apart.
After more digging, they discovered it was a total sham. There was no George Strait benefit concert, no real ticket seller, and no help going to flood victims. It was just a heartless scammer with a copy-paste job and one sneaky trick up their sleeve, a single character in the email that didn’t match.
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“There was one letter that was different in the email in this Facebook post from the email on George’s website,” the victim explained. “That was all it took. From that one letter, the money was wired to the wrong place. The charity got nothing.”
RELATED: Chris Stapleton Lends a Hand to Texas Flood Victims With Generous Donation
It wasn’t just the financial hit that stung. It was knowing the money was supposed to go to Texans struggling in the wake of serious flooding. “I was not concerned about losing the money,” the victim said. “That’s a lot of money, but I was concerned that someone stole money from people who were suffering in our state.”
He didn’t hold back on how he felt about the people behind it. “Tragedies bring out the best in people, especially in Texas. It also brings out the worst. There will always be people who are unscrupulous and want to take advantage. It doesn’t matter how tragic.”
His words for the scammers? “I think they should get life in prison. It is one of the worst things.”
Despite the loss, the couple says they won’t stop supporting their community. “Next steps are keep giving. We’ll be supporting other events around the area.”
The Better Business Bureau issued a reminder that scams like this ramp up during major events and disasters. They urge consumers to always purchase event tickets through trusted platforms, preferably directly from the venue. And always use a credit card, at least then you have a shot at getting your money back if things go south.
The lesson here is clear. If it’s not from the artist’s official page, double-check it yourself. Don’t trust a random post, even if it looks polished. Because scammers aren’t just ripping off fans, they’re exploiting tragedy, community goodwill, and the name of one of country music’s most beloved artists to do it. That’s as low as it gets.
