Brazilian Authorities Arrest Four in $3.9 Million Instagram Deepfake Scam

Brazilian authorities have dismantled a sophisticated cybercrime ring that used deepfake videos of supermodel Gisele Bündchen and other celebrities in Instagram ads to scam millions of dollars from unsuspecting victims. The scheme generated over 20 million reais (approximately $3.9 million) through fraudulent promotions, including fake skincare product endorsements and suitcase giveaways that required victims to pay shipping fees for items that never arrived. Four suspects were arrested and assets were frozen across five states, with the investigation led by the Rio Grande do Sul cybercrime unit, which also uncovered other scams involving deepfakes and false betting platforms. This case marks one of Brazil's first major efforts to combat AI-driven image and video manipulation in online fraud, following a Supreme Court ruling that holds social media platforms liable for criminal ads if they do not act promptly to remove them. Instagram's parent company Meta stated it prohibits deceptive ads using public figures and employs specialized detection systems and review teams to combat such scams. Authorities and Bündchen's representatives have urged consumers to verify offers through official channels and report suspicious activity to prevent falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.