Scammer season is real and Taraji P. Henson experienced it first hand. Deets on a Chicago mom hacking into the "Empire" star's email and stealing her identity inside...

It's SCAMMER SZN! And folks are out here wildin'. No one is safe...not even celebs.

A Chicago mother-of-six reportedly hacked into Taraji P. Henson's email and allegedly stole her identity!

29-year-old Alicia Renee Newby sobbed when she appeared before a judge at the Leighton Criminal Court Building recently. The Chicago mom - who's reportedly 2-months pregnant and suffers from bipolar disorder - was charged with a single felony count of continuing a financial crime enterprise. Not only did she steal Taraji's identity, she also stole the identities of several people. She racked up thousands of dollars in merchandise that she had mailed to dummy addresses.

Newby's scheme totaled more than $12,000 in fraudulent charges, including more than $4,000 that was canceled after Henson’s manager noticed the bogus transactions in August, the Chicago Tribune reports. According to prosecutors, Henson's team reached out to Chicago police after her manager noticed fraudulent charges on several of her accounts. The manager noticed items were being sent to two South Side addresses under names they didn’t recognize.

Newby was released on a $10,000 signature bail and electronic monitoring, but was forbidden from contacting victims or witnesses. She also has been barred from using the internet while the case is pending.

The Chicago Tribune reports:

During the hearing before Judge Charles S. Beach II, prosecutors didn’t name either of Newby’s alleged victims, but police and court records list actress Taraji P. Henson, 48, as one of them. A representative for the Oscar- and Emmy-nominated actress who stars in the hip-hop drama that films in Chicago couldn’t be reached for comment Sunday afternoon.

Authorities did not say how Newby and Henson knew one another, but a police source said investigators were also looking into whether any other cast members of “Empire” may have been victims.

“Once this was done, the defendant then raided the account for a variety of information," including phone numbers, addresses, financial accounts and telephone numbers that she could then use to purchase items online, Assistant State’s Attorney James Costello told the court.

In addition to defrauding Henson, Newby also defrauded JP Morgan Chase, American Express and PayPal and multiple other merchants in her scheme, according to charging documents.

Cops arrested Newby early Saturday (July 27th) after they secured a search warrant at her Galewood apartment. During the search, authorities found items they believe were purchased in the scheme and were awaiting the results of a forensic analysis of several electronic devices that were seized.

Newby reportedly had utility bills in her name mailed to two South Side addresses and managed to obtain a lease at one of the residences by using a second victim’s identity.

In September, a postal worker refused to deliver packages at one of the addresses, thinking it was part of some type of scam. However, Newby went up to the post office, caused a scene, and they released the merchandise to her. Chile...

Newby is expected to return to court next week.

Meanwhile, the "Empire" star is enjoying life with her soon-to-be husband Kelvin Hayden:

 

 

 

 

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Selfie with the birthday boy @kelvinhayden I love you so much!!!

A post shared by taraji p henson (@tarajiphenson) on Jul 22, 2019 at 2:20pm PDT

Photos: Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.com/Chicago PD