Ireland’s Most Imitated Celebrities Revealed
From Hollywood icons to homegrown music heroes, Ireland’s most famous faces are attracting more than just fans online, their identity is being used to catfish people across the globe.
To mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, Virgin Media has analysed 50 of Ireland’s best-known celebrities to uncover which stars attract the most fake social media profiles.
The analysis looked across Facebook, Instagram, and X for accounts claiming to be each celebrity, excluding obvious fan or parody pages.
Top 10 Most Imitated Irish Celebrities
1. Liam Neeson - These catfish have a special set of skills
Topping the list with 451 fake profiles, the Taken and Love Actually star’s fame spans generations. His distinctive voice and enduring meme status make him a prime target for impersonators, especially on X, where 400+ fake accounts were found pretending to be him. Scammers often exploit his trustworthy public image, posing as “official” fan pages or charity appeals to draw in followers.
2. Colin Farrell - From Oscars to imposters
Fresh from his Oscar-nominated role in The Banshees of Inisherin, Colin Farrell has seen a resurgence in global attention and imitation. With 219 fake accounts, mostly on Facebook, it seems his easy-going charm and media presence make him a go-to face for impersonators trying to appear legitimate online.
3. Niall Horan - Fake accounts heading in One wrong Direction
The One Direction star turned solo artist remains one of Ireland’s most-followed celebrities worldwide — and with 173 fake profiles, he’s also one of the most copied. Many fake accounts use tour photos and stolen posts to pose as Horan, often tagging real fans to appear authentic.
4. Paul Mescal - There's nothing normal about these profiles
Kildare native Paul Mescal’s rapid rise to fame, from Normal People to Aftersun and the Gladiator II, has made his stock rise considerably. His mix of global recognition and relatively new celebrity status may explain why 150 impersonator accounts have appeared in just a few years.
5. Ronan Keating - Say nothing at all to these accounts
As one of Ireland’s most recognisable singers and a radio host, Ronan Keating’s approachable persona keeps him in the public eye and apparently on scammers’ radar. With 108 fake profiles, many mimic his tone of posting or use charity-related messaging to appear trustworthy.
6. Dermot Kennedy - Power Over Me? More like power over the fakes
Dublin singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy is one of Ireland’s biggest modern music exports and now one of its most imitated. With 104 fake profiles, many impersonators use his heartfelt lyrics and fan engagement style to build credibility and reach unsuspecting followers.
7. Michael Fassbender - Too many stunt doubles online
Known for his roles in X-Men, Shame, and 12 Years a Slave, Michael Fassbender ranks seventh with 97 fake profiles. His international career and long-standing Hollywood presence make him an easy face to copy for global audiences who might not know his real accounts.
8. Pierce Brosnan - The name's fake... profile fake
The former James Bond actor continues to be a global icon — and a magnet for fakes. With 87 impersonator accounts, many fake profiles mirror his official film updates or use AI-edited images to appear sophisticated and legitimate.
9. Jamie Dornan - Fifty shades of fake
The Fifty Shades of Grey actor is ninth on the list with 86 fake accounts. His international fanbase and heartthrob reputation make him a favourite for impersonators — many of whom pose as him to message fans privately or run fake giveaways.
10. Conor McGregor - Too many McGregors in the octagon
The UFC star rounds out the top ten with 85 fake accounts across platforms. Known for his larger-than-life personality, McGregor’s fame makes him one of the most impersonated athletes, with fake profiles often promoting counterfeit merchandise or crypto “investments.”
While X had the highest single total, with more than 400 fake Liam Neeson accounts, Facebook remains the leading platform for impersonation overall, representing nearly 40% of all fake profiles identified.
Instagram, on the other hand, is where users are most likely to encounter the most convincing impersonators, complete with stolen photos, bios, and follower counts designed to appear genuine.
Don't be fooled by a familiar face
Fake celebrity accounts aren’t just harmless duplicates. Many are used to spread
scams, promote fake giveaways, or trick users into sharing personal
information.
It’s all too easy to be catfished or scammed by a profile that looks convincing,
especially when it uses the name or photo of someone you trust.
If you receive unexpected messages, money requests, or “exclusive” offers from a
celebrity account, it’s worth double-checking before you click or respond.
Top tips on staying safe online
1. Verify before you follow – Check for the blue verification tick or compare usernames with the celebrity’s official website or linked pages.
2. Be sceptical of DMs – Real celebrities rarely message fans directly, especially to offer prizes or ask for money.
3. Avoid sharing personal details – Don’t share your email, phone number, or passwords with accounts you don’t know.
4. Look for small clues – Extra letters, numbers, or punctuation in usernames are classic signs of fake profiles.
5. Report impersonators – If you spot a fake account, report it to the platform to help protect others.
6. Secure your own profiles – Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible.
Online impersonation is a growing issue, but by staying alert and practising safe habits, you can avoid being catfished, cloned, or scammed by someone pretending to be someone they’re not.
Methodology
Virgin Media analysed 50 of Ireland’s best-known celebrities across Facebook, Instagram, and X between September and October 2025.
Fake accounts were counted where an account claimed to represent the celebrity without verification and was not clearly marked as a fan or parody page.
