A Ukrainian national used AI-generated deepfake videos featuring Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela to promote a cryptocurrency investment scam that defrauded victims of over €53,000.
In July 2024, deepfake videos featuring Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela were circulated on social media platforms, falsely endorsing cryptocurrency investment schemes. The AI-generated videos also featured other prominent figures including former Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. A 24-year-old Ukrainian national, Kateryna Izotkina, was arrested and charged with money laundering, fraud, illicit gains, and involvement in organised crime. The scam operated through a sophisticated scheme where victims were contacted by supposed financial advisors, encouraged to invest through platforms like 'Wealth Xpert,' and shown false profit graphs. One victim lost her entire life savings of €53,250 after being manipulated through daily contact via Telegram and remote desktop software. The scammers used multiple personas and fake institutions to extract money through cash handovers and cryptocurrency transactions. Police conducted a controlled delivery operation using counterfeit money to arrest Izotkina, and subsequently froze €63,000 of her assets. The case involves multiple victims who fell for the deepfake-promoted investment scheme.
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