Deepfake Scams Targeting Celebrities on the Rise
The warnings from even the fiercest advocates of AI that the technology could be used to harm people might be too late — it’s already happening, and the biggest celebrities on Earth are targets. Just this week, two of the most famous individuals, actor Tom Hanks and YouTube star MrBeast, have fallen victim to deepfake images used for fraudulent purposes.
An artificially generated video of MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, started circulating on TikTok. In the video, Donaldson claims that the viewer is one of 10,000 “lucky” people who have been selected to win an unreleased iPhone 15 Pro. He mentions that the winners only need to pay $2, while the device normally retails for $999. The video features a deepfake avatar of Donaldson, complete with his voice, urging the viewers to click on a link to claim their prize. However, Donaldson quickly took to social media to warn his followers about the scam.
Tom Hanks, the acclaimed actor known for his roles in movies like Forrest Gump and Toy Story, experienced a similar incident. He discovered that his likeness was being used in an AI advertisement for a dental plan. Hanks promptly addressed the issue on his Instagram page, stating that he had nothing to do with it.
Aside from the potential financial implications for individuals who fall for these scams, celebrities are also expressing their alarm at having their images manipulated by deepfake artists. CBS news presenter Gayle King shared her was confusion when people began contacting her about weight loss gummies that she had supposedly endorsed in a manipulated clip promoting her podcast. King described the experience as “scary” and highlighted the ease with which individuals can be made to appear to say anything.
Even prominent figures who have been enthusiastic about AI, such as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, have expressed concerns about the technology being exploited by malicious actors. Gates emphasized these concerns in a blog post, while Dimon spoke about the potential misuse of AI by bad actors for cyber warfare.
