A 73-year-old woman from Nebraska lost nearly $39,000 after falling victim to a romance scam involving someone who falsely claimed to be Randy Owen, the lead vocalist of the country band Alabama. The case has prompted the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office to remind residents—especially older adults—to be cautious of online impersonation scams.
According to Lancaster County Chief Deputy Ben Houchin, the scam unfolded over roughly 10 months, beginning in September 2025 and continuing through June 2026. During that time, the fraudster communicated with the woman through messaging apps while pretending to be the famous musician.
Investigators said the victim used her monthly Social Security payments to buy gift cards. She then photographed the cards and sent the images to the scammer, allowing the funds to be redeemed.
Houchin noted that celebrity impersonation scams have become increasingly common, with older adults often being targeted because they are more likely to recognize and trust well-known public figures. He also stressed an important warning: genuine celebrities will never ask fans to send money or gift cards.
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