Nollywood actor and filmmaker Frederick Leonard has issued a public warning after discovering that fraudsters are using his name to extort money from aspiring actors under the guise of fake auditions. In a video posted on his verified Instagram account on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Leonard directly addressed the scam, calling the perpetrators 'some lazy Nigerian youths, unscrupulous elements, and fraudsters' who have been collecting fees from unsuspecting individuals by claiming to organize auditions on his behalf.
Leonard's Clarification on Auditions
Leonard emphasized that he has not scheduled any auditions for his production company and stressed that legitimate auditions are always free. 'Auditions are free anywhere in the world. They are meant to discover new talents. I have not scheduled any auditions for my production company,' he stated. He added that any official announcements about auditions would be made exclusively through his verified social media accounts.
In the caption accompanying his video, Leonard wrote: 'This is to state that I Frederick Leonard is not conducting auditions or asking people to pay for auditions anywhere! IF and when the need for that arises, there will be a proper announcement on my VERIFIED ACCOUNTS.' The warning comes amid a wave of impersonation scams targeting Nigerian celebrities on social media.
Fans React to the Scam Warning
The responses from followers ranged from alarm to relief, with several users admitting they had nearly fallen victim to the scam. @riyanxeally commented: 'Frederick Leonard is a powerful name Will remain powerful too We will spread the word Zaddy.' @ibukun_rotimi shared: 'I was shocked at first o said the almighty Freddieleonard.. that's impossible immediately I blocked… sir I look forward to work with you.. am an actor and a trial will convince you.' Another follower, @ibukun_rotimi, added: 'Yes sir ohh I almost fall victim thank God immediately he said o should secure a chance with 15k I just knew it was a scam cuz I came to your page on ig and nottin like that… Omo Naija.'
Context of Impersonation Scams in Nollywood
Leonard's warning is part of a larger trend of impersonation targeting Nigerian celebrities. Earlier, Legit.ng reported that actor IK Ogbonna debunked viral rumors that he was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over an international romance scam. Ogbonna attributed the false claims to fake social media accounts created in his name. The incidents highlight the need for fans to verify information through official channels before making any payments.
