Comedian Bryan Callen recently revealed on The Fighter and the Kid podcast that he became the victim of an elaborate tech support scam—one that typically targets older, less tech-savvy individuals.
What makes the incident particularly striking is that Callen, a veteran comedian with decades in the entertainment industry, fell for a scheme disguised as a legitimate podcast opportunity with actress Amy Poehler.
The scam began when someone posing as Poehler’s assistant reached out to Callen about appearing on “Story Time with Amy,” a popular podcast. Given that Callen knew Poehler from his years in the comedy circuit, the invitation seemed credible.
The scammers had done their homework, timing the outreach to coincide with Callen’s recent comedy special release and knowing that he’d been actively seeking PR opportunities after being sidelined from mainstream Hollywood work following his 2021 firing.
The operation was sophisticated. Callen received a list of questions for the supposed interview and was told the appearance would be conducted via Zoom. When technical difficulties arose on his phone, the scammer convinced him to switch to his laptop.
The critical moment came when the fake assistant asked to screen share to help configure Callen’s Facebook settings, claiming it was necessary for the broadcast.
“I’m clicking everything,” Callen explained on the podcast. “I just go, ‘Wait, so when are we doing the podcast?’ He goes, ‘This Friday.’ I go, ‘Oh, this was just a test run.'”
The scammer kept Callen engaged for over 20 minutes, gaining access to his computer and business accounts through the screen-sharing session.
Red flags eventually emerged. When Callen asked where the assistant was located, the response was vague. The accent didn’t sound right. Twenty minutes into the technical setup, Callen’s instincts kicked in, but by then, the damage was done. His podcast producer later confirmed it was a known scam targeting public figures, with similar operations impersonating Joe Rogan and other celebrities.
A cybersecurity expert Callen consulted confirmed the worst: the scammers had accessed his Meta Business Suite and potentially harvested passwords and personal information.
“They sell all this stuff,” the expert told him. “You’re just not that important—it’s not like you’re that important.” The scammers’ goal was to access his social media following to spam advertisements and sell that access to third-party brokers on the dark web.
Facebook quickly shut down the irregular activity, but Callen had to change all his passwords and implement new security measures. The expert reassured him that the scammers likely didn’t access banking information, though the breach was still significant.
The comedian even reached out to the real Amy Poehler via direct message, who had no knowledge of the fake podcast invitation.
What’s particularly notable about this incident is how it mirrors scams that typically victimize retirees and less digitally literate populations. These schemes rely on social engineering—building trust, creating urgency, and exploiting the target’s desire for legitimate opportunities. The scammers knew Callen’s background, his connections, and his current career trajectory, making the fake offer believable.
