Journey fan loses $122,000 to Steve Perry-impersonating scammer

A Journey fan has claimed she was scammed out of over $122,000 (£95,000) by someone impersonating the band’s former lead singer Steve Perry.

The 75-year-old woman, who lives in Ohio, was exchanging Facebook messages with someone claiming to be Perry since January, according to a police report obtained by WKYC.

The Perry impersonator said he had a “business opportunity” and “needed a woman in his life”.

Over the next few months, the woman and scammer corresponded by text and WhatsApp messages, and the victim sent thousands of dollars to who she thought was the former frontman.

She sent $72,000 (£56,121) via bank wire transfers to “various persons in various different states, designated by ‘Perry'”.

Additionally, she sent over $50,000 (£39,000) in gift cards to the Perry imposter.

When the scammer asked for photos of her IDs and “became more demanding”, the woman realised that she was perhaps being conned. After the pair went their “separate ways”, the woman reported the impersonator to the police.

The police told her to file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The case is still being investigated by the Westlake Police Department at the time of writing.

The real Steve Perry, meanwhile, is contemplating a return to music. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, he revealed that he had signed to a new label and planned to work on new material.

He said: “I’m very excited about it, and I’ll have an opportunity very soon to work with these very, very musically creative people.”

Earlier this year, Journey‘s classic hit ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ was named the biggest song of all time by Forbes and went 18x platinum.

According to the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), the 1981 track has shifted more than 18million units between pure sales and other forms of consumption, such as streaming, in the USA alone.

Perry posted on Instagram to celebrate the band’s achievement. He wrote: “To be part of such a moment as this made me reflect on my parents. By that I mean, though I lost them both years ago, I was so happy for them because they are truly the reason this is happening.

“My dad was a singer and both of them were very musical. So on behalf of my Mom and Dad, I thank every one of you for so many years of support.”

The band’s most recent album was 2022’s ‘Freedom’ – their first full-length LP in over a decade.

This autumn, Journey will be going on a 50th anniversary UK and Ireland arena tour. You can see the full schedule below, and find any remaining tickets here.

Journey’s 2024 UK and Ireland tour dates are:

OCTOBER
30 – CARDIFF, Utilita Arena Cardiff
31 – NOTTINGHAM, Motorpoint Arena

NOVEMBER
02 – GLASGOW, OVO Hydro
04 – BELFAST, SSE Arena Belfast
05 – DUBLIN, 3Arena
08 – MANCHESTER, AO Arena
09 – LEEDS, first direct Arena
11 – LIVERPOOL, M&S Bank Arena
13 – BIRMINGHAM, Utilita Arena Birmingham
16 – NEWCASTLE, Utilita Arena
17 – LONDON, O2 Arena

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