The 76-year-old South Wales native Gina Morgan engaged in a protracted Facebook conversation with a person claiming to be the “Godfather Part II” star, according to Caters News. The fact that he was trying to sell “membership cards,” which sounds like a scam that actor Jimmy Conway from “Goodfellas” might have pulled off, and that the user name on the photos he sent was “Robert De Niro page” didn’t seem to phase her.

“That is not Robert De Niro!” her granddaughter Shannon Rich, 28, shouts in a video showing the message exchange where Morgan met the faker. “Well, who is it then?” Morgan replies.

Turns out the scammers were trying to get the senior citizen to shell out $500 for a “VIP fan card” that would falsely promise “every access” to the don — video chats, phone calls and even a visit from the new father, according to Caters.

“There are three types of membership card … I can connect you to my manager about getting it,” a message read.

The Dangers of Online Scams

With the rise of high-powered artificial intelligence, online romance and cyber scams have surged. Scammers are experts at impersonating people and coercing victims into sending money or divulging sensitive information. Often, the elderly are prime targets for these schemes.

In this case, the scammers posed as beloved actor Robert De Niro to try and fool Gina. They used photos and persona details to make the act believable. The goal was to get Gina to purchase a bogus “membership card” that promised special access and interactions with De Niro.

Granddaughter to the Rescue

Luckily, Gina had her skeptical granddaughter Shannon looking over her shoulder. Shannon immediately recognized the scam and alerted Gina.

“That is not Robert De Niro!” Shannon shouted when she saw the exchange. Although initially confused, Gina was receptive to Shannon’s warning.

Shannon later told reporters she was never truly worried about her grandmother being fooled. “My nan is smart enough not to give out any personal details,” Shannon said. “She was already questioning the tuxedo photos.”

Still, Shannon is glad she intervened, saving her grandmother from wasting money on false promises. Their hilarious exchange, caught on video, serves as a warning to others about the prevalence of online scams.

How to Spot Online Scams

The first step to avoiding online scams is being able to recognize them. Here are some common red flags:

• Claims of celebrity status or affiliation
• Requests for money transfers or gift cards
• Poor grammar, spelling and word usage
• Requests for sensitive personal information
• Photos that seem suspiciously edited

If something seems suspicious, do some research. Conduct an image search on the photos or look up the person and company names. Check website domains and company addresses. Ask people you trust if something seems legitimate.

Staying Safe Online

With vigilance and some safety precautions, you can greatly reduce your risk of falling victim to online scams:

• Never send money or gifts to someone you haven’t met in person
• Don’t divulge sensitive personal information
• Use unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication
• Keep software up-to-date and use antivirus programs
• Research people and companies before engaging
• Turn to family and friends if you have concerns

Following these tips, and maintaining healthy skepticism like Gina and Shannon did, will go a long way in protecting you from cyber scams. I sincerely hope you like reading this “Grandma Hilarious Texting Mishap Involving Robert De Niro- What Went Wrong?” article.

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