Veteran actor Dr. Ashraf Zaki, head of Egypt’s Actors Syndicate, has taken decisive legal action after uncovering a serious fraud case that targeted several well-known artists. Zaki filed an official complaint with the Cybercrime Unit against an individual who impersonated famous actors to contact other celebrities and fraudulently request financial aid.

The case began when several actors received calls and messages from someone claiming to be a well-known artist facing a severe health and financial crisis, urgently requesting money. What made the case more alarming was that the impersonator didn’t use just one identity but exploited the names of multiple celebrities, capitalizing on the trust and familiarity these names carry in the artistic community.

One notable victim was actor Yasser Galal, who received a call from someone claiming to be actor Qais Abdel Fattah, asking for money to cover medical expenses. Suspicious due to the repeated and insistent requests, Galal reached out directly to Dr. Ashraf Zaki to verify the situation.

Dr. Zaki confirmed that Qais Abdel Fattah was in good health, had not suffered any illness, and was not in need of financial assistance. This confirmed the existence of a scammer impersonating the actor, prompting the syndicate to act firmly.

Without hesitation, Dr. Zaki filed an official complaint with the Cybercrime Unit, demanding the arrest and strict punishment of the impersonator to set an example and deter anyone from misusing the names of artists for fraud.

This incident is not isolated; similar scams have been recurring recently, with multiple celebrities falling victim to fake messages and requests using the names of well-known figures.

Among those previously targeted were actor Majed El Masry and veteran actor Ahmed Bedir, both of whom received similar calls from individuals claiming to be struggling artists using the names of other celebrities to gain sympathy and money.

In his statements, Zaki stressed that the syndicate will not tolerate any misuse of artists’ names or identities. He emphasized the syndicate’s responsibility to protect its members from extortion and fraud. He also urged artists to be cautious and avoid responding to suspicious messages without first consulting the syndicate.

Zaki added that the syndicate is working closely with the relevant authorities to monitor such activities on social media platforms and messaging apps, insisting that this harmful practice must be stopped immediately to protect the artistic community.

The complaint includes all relevant details and conversations between the scammer and several artists, which will help authorities trace the source and arrest the suspect as soon as possible.

In conclusion, Ashraf Zaki issued a message to all artists and the public:
"Please do not respond to anyone claiming to be an artist asking for money without first checking with us. The syndicate is always open to inquiries, and we act swiftly to protect our members in the artistic community."