The Hush Guide to Protecting Celebrities, Influencers & Their Communities

In today's digital world, being a public figure means managing more than just your brand. It means protecting yourself — and your fans — from impersonators, scams, and fraud. At Hush, we believe safety is part of legacy.

Why This Matters

Impersonation is one of the fastest-growing risks for public figures. Fake profiles, scam DMs, and fraudulent ticket links don't just hurt fans — they can damage trust and reputation.

Our philosophy is simple:

• Fewer accounts, fewer risks
• Make authenticity obvious
• Treat fans like members — train them to verify
• Act fast when fraud happens
• Communicate in a calm, confident voice

Step 1: Own Your Digital Real Estate

Think of your name like property. If you don't own it, someone else can.

Domains: Secure your primary domain, register key TLDs (.com, .net, .co), buy common misspellings, and redirect defensive domains to a verification page listing your official site and accounts.

Email: Claim Gmail usernames that mirror your name, use Google Workspace for official communication, and lock all accounts with strong 2FA.

Step 2: Publish an Authenticity Policy

Your fans should never have to guess what's real. Make it visible everywhere.

In your bio or pinned post: "I will never DM asking for money, gift cards, or personal information. Report fakes to security@yourname.com."

On your site: Explain which channels you use, where to buy tickets or merch, and how to report suspicious messages.

Step 3: Keep Fans Aware

Protecting fans is an ongoing service, not a one-time announcement.

• Monthly: Post a short reminder story (15–30 seconds)
• Quarterly: Share a video explaining common scams
• Before big events: Run elevated campaigns two weeks out
• After incidents: Post updates quickly (within hours), then follow up at 72 hours and one week

Step 4: Speak With Calm Authority

When addressing safety, your goal is to reassure, not alarm.

Step 5: Build a Routine

• Weekly: Search your name for impersonators
• Monthly: Post safety reminders
• Quarterly: Share an awareness video and practice your plan with your team
• Holiday/Event Seasons: Increase frequency with pinned posts and elevated campaigns

Step 6: Be Ready to Respond

If fraud happens, the first 72 hours are critical. Confirm the scam, screenshot everything, file reports, notify fans, and secure your accounts.

Step 7: Go Further (Advanced Moves)

• Post a rotating verification phrase on your site and pinned post
• Offer a fan verification form or bot
• Provide staff with hardware security keys
• Use a managed takedown service for 24/7 monitoring
• Have a legal escalation plan for repeat offenders