Coronation Street and Emmerdale issue ‘deepfake scam’ warning over cast

Maisie Spackman and Stella Akinwumi

Published January 23, 2025 3:40pm Updated January 23, 2025 3:40pm

The Coronation Street and Emmerdale logos in front of the Rovers and the Woolpack pubs. — Soap stars have warned fans to be careful of scammers (Picture: ITV/Metro/Michael Adams)

Coronation Street and Emmerdale have urged viewers to be mindful of online scammers who have been impersonating actors in the hopes of conning unsuspecting fans.

Soap stars including Lisa Riley (Mandy Dingle) and Daniel Brocklebank (Billy Mayhew) have warned their Instagram followers to be careful after being targeted in an identity scam.

In a new statement on Twitter/X, the ITV soaps wrote: ‘Please be aware that actors from both Coronation Street and Emmerdale are currently being impersonated by scammers across all social media platforms.

‘No cast member will ever directly request money for messages, meetings or any kind of personal interaction on social media.

‘We are aware these sophisticated impersonations can include deep-fake footage (where it appears to be the actor talking but isn’t) and personal messages which seem to be realistic and in character. We urge everybody to be vigilant. Please report any concerns to the relevant platform.’

They concluded: ‘The legitimate way of meeting with real members of the cast is via official ‘meet and greet’ events run by ITV Star Tours.’

Statement issued by ITV soaps Emmerdale and Corrie on social media — The ITV soaps released a statement (Picture: ITV)

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The most recent star to have been targeted by scammers in this way was Waterloo Road and Corrie icon Kym Marsh.

The Nicky Walters and Michelle Connor star took to Instagram to share a screenshot of a fake Facebook profile, warning fans that it wasn’t her.

Circling misinformation in the profile, the actress teased the scammers, suggesting that if they were going to pretend to be her, then ‘at least get your facts right!’

Coronation Street has previously tackled the issue of deepfakes in a topical storyline involving Abi Webster (Sally Carman).

The character was left horrified and scared when she learnt that videos of a sexual nature were circulating that appeared to be of her, when in reality someone had used technology to put her face on someone else’s body.

Abi Webster looks haunted in a moody picture from Coronation Street — Abi was previously targeted by deepfakes in a topical storyline (Picture: ITV)

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In recent scenes, Abi has been suffering after the death of Mason Radcliffe, and has started hallucinating dead son Seb Franklin (Harry Visinoni).

Elsewhere on the cobbles, the Platts are fearing for their lives after crossing notorious gangster Harvey Gaskell, Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) is on the rebound after Nick Tilsley’s (Ben Price) betrayal, and Carla Connor (Alison King) is on the hunt for a new kidney.

Meanwhile, over in the Dales, there is set to be a huge fallout in the wake of Anthony Fox’s (Nicholas Day) murder, while Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) continues to struggle with his illness.