Along with Rob Lowe and other celebrities, the Hollywood actresses repost a fake chain mail-type of message they thought would prevent their Instagram posts being used in court cases.

• Aug 22, 2019

AceShowbiz - Rob Lowe, Julia Roberts and Rita Wilson were among the stars who fell for an Instagram hoax on Tuesday, August 20, urging celebrities to repost an alert about private files.

The stars shared a fake chain mail-type of message they thought would prevent their Instagram posts being used in court cases.

"Don't forget tomorrow starts the new Instagram rule where they can use your photos," the message read. "Don't forget Deadline today!!! It can be used in court cases in litigation against you. Everything you've ever posted becomes public from today. Even messages that have been deleted or the photos not allowed."

The hoax post ended with a statement that read, "I give notice to Instagram is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, or take any other action against me based on this profile and/or its contents (sic)."

Taraji P. Henson, Usher, Debra Messing and Josh Brolin were also among the celebrities who fell for the prank and reposted the alert.

Many of them have since taken down the post.