Scammers used AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating entrepreneur Steven Bartlett to promote fake investment opportunities on Instagram, directing users to WhatsApp groups promising 35% stock returns in seven days.
Scammers created AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating Steven Bartlett, a well-known entrepreneur from Dragon's Den and host of Diary of a CEO podcast. The fake videos appeared on Instagram, showing a convincing but artificial version of Bartlett promoting exclusive investment opportunities and stock tips that would allegedly climb 35% in seven days. The videos directed viewers to join WhatsApp groups for these fake trading opportunities, exploiting Trump tariff fears and market volatility. Bartlett's team confirmed these were scams and worked with platforms to remove the content and block accounts. The report notes that investment scams stole over £56 million in the first six months of 2024, with social media campaigns and fake celebrity endorsements being common tactics. The author observed multiple similar videos circulating on Instagram using different celebrity faces to promote unrealistic stock returns. While some users recognized the videos as fake, the scammers only need one person to fall for the scheme to make it profitable.
Domain classification, causal taxonomy, severity scores, and national security assessments were LLM-classified and may contain errors.
Using AI systems to gain a personal advantage over others such as through cheating, fraud, scams, blackmail or targeted manipulation of beliefs or behavior. Examples include AI-facilitated plagiarism for research or education, impersonating a trusted or fake individual for illegitimate financial benefit, or creating humiliating or sexual imagery.
Human
Due to a decision or action made by humans
Intentional
Due to an expected outcome from pursuing a goal
Post-deployment
Occurring after the AI model has been trained and deployed