Victims of impersonation scams
Affecté par des incidents
Incident 123628 Rapports
Quantum AI and Related AI-Themed Investment Scams Reportedly Used Deepfake Endorsements and Spoofed Media Sites to Solicit Investments
2020-01-01
Researchers have described a global AI-themed investment fraud ecosystem using deepfake videos, spoofed news sites, phishing pages, and phone outreach to impersonate celebrities, news outlets, and political leaders. Reports link the scheme to fake trading platforms including Quantum AI and related sites, and to cloaked adtech infrastructure used to route likely victims while hiding scam pages from scanners.
PlusIncident 14541 Rapport
Purported Deepfake Video Reportedly Portrayed Nirmala Sitharaman Endorsing Investment Scheme
2026-04-16
A purported deepfake video reportedly portrayed Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as endorsing an investment scheme claiming Rs 22,000 (about $236 USD) could yield Rs 5.5 lakh (about $5,900 USD) in a week. PIB Fact Check publicly debunked the video on April 16, 2026, stating it was fake and AI-generated and warning that neither the Government of India nor the minister endorsed the scheme.
PlusIncident 15051 Rapport
Scammers Reportedly Used AI-Cloned Daughter's Voice to Defraud Bay Area Mother in Fake Kidnapping Call
2026-05-24
Deborah Del Mastro of Martinez, California, reportedly wired $5,400 to Mexico after scammers falsely claimed her daughter Sarah had been kidnapped and played what she believed was Sarah's panicked voice. AI had reportedly been used to mimic the daughter's voice during a five-hour call that pressured Del Mastro to send money. After she contacted her daughter and learned she was safe, Martinez police reportedly began investigating.
PlusIncident 15531 Rapport
Purported AI-Manipulated Video of Nirmala Sitharaman Reportedly Promoted High-Return Investment Scam
2025-06-30
A purported AI-manipulated video reportedly depicted Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman endorsing an investment platform that claimed a ₹22,000 deposit could generate returns of up to ₹25 lakh per month. Genuine webinar footage was reportedly altered with synthetic audio and added text, and the advertisement circulated under the name "Trust India." Available evidence did not identify the perpetrators or establish whether viewers invested money or suffered financial losses.
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