(SeaPRwire) – By: Oliver Hawthorne, a Principal Correspondent permanently stationed at an international technology review
The Nashville-based rock band Sons of Legion exploded onto the scene last year. Their anthemic, bluesy songs resonated deeply on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Fans eagerly shared lyrics, connecting the music to their own lives. This surge in popularity led to a 50-city sold-out tour and opening slots for Jelly Roll. However, as their fame grew, lead singer Adam McInnis began seeing his likeness used in disturbing ways online. He discovered AI-generated videos and images of himself performing different songs, even soliciting dates. These deepfakes were convincing enough that fans struggled to distinguish them from reality.
Romance scams are not new, but AI has amplified their reach and effectiveness. Scammers can now create realistic voice and video calls that are virtually indistinguishable from the real person. McInnis noted that his AI impersonators “look and sound identical to me.” Musicians with dedicated fanbases are particularly vulnerable. Sons of Legion’s management reports that 50 to 60 new fake online accounts targeting their fans emerge daily, attempting to extort money. This has had devastating consequences, with McInnis reporting that at nearly every show, someone approaches him believing they were in a relationship and had sent “him” thousands of dollars.
The band’s appeal to an older demographic, their independent status limiting resources, and their rapid growth on social media—from 12,000 Facebook followers in January 2025 to 2.3 million—make them prime targets. Bandmate Daddy Jack explained, “Our fans are invested in us emotionally as a group. People are making friendships and meeting their lifelong partners within our fanbase.” This emotional connection is precisely what scammers exploit. The band’s management, including Tayler Bock, constantly battles fake Facebook groups that quickly gain thousands of followers. They use Loti, a deepfake detection startup, which has helped remove over 350 impersonation pages, but new ones constantly reappear.
Meta has stated they are investigating these scams and taking action against violating content, also highlighting their AI efforts to combat such activities. Scammers lure fans to more secure messaging platforms like Zangi, Telegram, or Signal. There, they send AI-generated romantic messages, photos, and videos, sometimes depicting explicit content. These fabricated interactions lead fans to believe they are in a relationship, making them susceptible to requests for thousands of dollars via cryptocurrency, often under the guise of supporting the band’s tour or covering fabricated hospital bills. Scammers also peddle fake merchandise, concert tickets, and backstage passes. The sheer volume of these scam attempts is causing genuine fans to hesitate engaging online, negatively impacting the band’s algorithmic visibility.
McInnis feels he is not just fighting scammers but also for the integrity of human-made music. Sons of Legion now competes with AI bands on platforms like Spotify, which can release music faster and cheaper. McInnis hopes music platforms will implement stronger safeguards and that listeners will choose authentic content over AI-generated alternatives. “It’s almost forcing everyone to decide at a certain point: Do you want to keep watching AI videos? Or do you want something truly real?” he questioned. Luke Arrigoni of Loti estimates Sons of Legion is among the top 10% for scam volume, employing legal avenues like the right of publicity and Tennessee’s ELVIS Act to combat these issues. Arrigoni likens the fight to “whack-a-mole at an industrial level.”
Author bio: Oliver Hawthorne, a Principal Correspondent permanently stationed at an international technology review, provides incisive analysis on emerging tech trends and their societal impact.