AI Deepfake Celebrity Scams on the Rise

Paul Davis, a 43-year-old from Southampton, lost £200 after being targeted by scammers using AI-driven deepfake videos of celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk. The fraudsters used convincing fake videos and doctored identification to emotionally manipulate Davis, soliciting non-refundable Apple gift cards under false pretenses over five months. Davis reported that a friend was also victimized, losing even more money in a similar scam. Experts warn that such AI-powered impersonation frauds are becoming more prevalent and realistic, making them harder to detect. Another case involved a French woman defrauded of hundreds of thousands of pounds by a Brad Pitt impersonator, highlighting the scams’ global scale. The trend underscores the growing threat posed by advances in deepfake technology.