Kate Beckinsale has shared her horrifying experience at the hands of catfish allegedly tricking victims into showing up at her home — revealing how she was eventually forced to move out after a series of strange men arrived on her doorstep late at night.”
Addressing her 5.5 million Instagram followers on Wednesday, the 49-year-old actress revealed that during the lockdown ‘several men’ were catfished online by ‘scammers’ posing as her and tricking the guys into thinking they were in a relationship with her – before inviting them to her home in Los Angeles.
The Hollywood star revealed that the boys’ attack left her and her then-boyfriend Goody Grace, 25, living in fear, while the catfish victims were left “humiliated” upon learning the truth, with some eventually being arrested.
The scammers were so desperate to fool their victims that they even created fake social media profiles for her beloved cat Clive, who has become an internet celebrity thanks to his presence on Kate’s Instagram account.
Shocking: Kate Beckinsale has shared her horrific experience at the hands of catfishers who allegedly trick victims into showing up at her home address (pictured last month)
Leave him out! Scammers were so desperate to fool their victims that they even created fake social media profiles for her beloved cat Clive
“During the lockdown, several men had been ambushed in such a way that they flew into Los Angeles from out of state, obtained my home address, and showed up on my doorstep late at night (on several nights, over a period of a few weeks) thinking that we had a kind of relationship,” she wrote.
“My boyfriend at the time and I were absolutely ecstatic, the catfished guys were humiliated and some arrested, the scammers weren’t caught and eventually I had to move.”
In an effort to make it clear that she would never personally contact men on social media, she shared a video clip of comedian Jimmy Wyngarde playing a deluded man who was convinced he had entered into a cyber relationship with Kate.
Kate captioned the funny clip: “Reposting this because a)@[Jimmy] (who I don’t know personally) made it and it’s funny and really well done and b) can this please be the definitive answer for anyone who thinks I message them or talk to them on google hangouts or ask them for money or send pictures of my passport or driver’s license – or have my personal assistant message them on my behalf or anything to that effect – it’s definitely not me and you are being horribly taken advantage of and please report and block anyone doing this to you. Long story short, if you think I’m messaging you, I’m not.”
Kate’s fans were quick to offer their support, with some even revealing that they had been approached by scammers posing as the star but ignored the messages.
One follower said fake profiles were circulating posing as her Persian cat.
He shared, “Unfortunately I have had messages from those here posing as you and select others (now [even] does a fake Clive profile appear?) and on Facebook, [some] I even used your profile picture to lure me in, but I was smart and thought, damn it.’
Horrified, Kate replied, “Oh God not Clive too, is there nothing sacred?”
Another fan lightened the mood by joking: ‘Oh I’ve been waiting for you at Wolverhampton station for three hours, now where are you Kate? PS, just the five minute argument is enough for now,” causing Kate to reply, “Hahaha,” with a heart.
Shocking: The Hollywood star revealed that men’s assault left her and her then-boyfriend Goody Grace, 25, living in fear
Poor Clive: Kate’s fans quickly offered their support, revealing that they had been approached by scammers posing as the star, but had ignored the messages.
Oh dear: another fan lightened the mood by joking that he had been cheated on
At the time of the catfish attack, Kate was dating Canadian singer Goody.
The couple split in October 2020 after nine months of dating and just three months after publicly declaring their love for each other.
Their relationship raised eyebrows at the time because Goody is only two years older than her daughter, 22-year-old Lily, whom she shares with her ex-partner of eight years, Michael Sheen.
A source told People at the time that the split “wasn’t a problem for Kate,” adding, “It’s been great for Kate to have him around during the lockdown.”
The source went on to say that Goody is “young and has different priorities than her,” and that Kate “totally gets it.”
Kate was previously married to director Len Wiseman for 12 years, but filed for divorce in 2016.
Kate listed her Los Angeles home for $3.995 million in August 2021, and it sold just weeks after she put it up for sale, the New York Post reported at the time.
She had bought the sprawling four-bedroom, five-bathroom mansion for $3.595 million in 2006, 15 years earlier.
Meanwhile, Kate’s post comes after she sparked concern earlier this month when she revealed she was suffering from a mysterious ailment.
She took to Instagram to share a selfie with her drip as she revealed she had been going through a “tough time.”
Adding to her misery, the Underworld star revealed that her beloved cat Clive was also struggling and had been admitted to the vet.
Alongside a series of photos, the mother of one wrote, “Tough week or two for both of us. Thank you to everyone who loved us.
‘Prayers up for my Clive and better days ahead x’.
Kate didn’t specify her own health issues or those of her cat, but fans were quick to share their support and well wishes.
Former flame: At the time of the catfish attack, Kate was dating Canadian singer Goody Grace, 24. The couple split in October 2020 after nine months of dating (pictured May 2020)