AI tools were used to create deepfake videos impersonating Croatian TV host Sasa Kopljar and neurosurgeon Josip Paladino to fraudulently promote fake medical products through fabricated news segments.
In September 2024, a deepfake video was created using AI technology that impersonated Croatian TV host Sasa Kopljar and neurosurgeon Josip Paladino to promote fraudulent medical products. The fabricated video depicted a fake news segment where Paladino was supposedly attacked in a TV studio for promoting a miracle pain relief cream called Steplex. The deepfake used existing footage of Paladino from 2012 when he was speaking as chairman of the Hajduk football club supervisory board, digitally manipulating his voice and lip movements to make it appear he was endorsing the fake medication. The video also incorporated unrelated footage of an actual fight from Ukrainian television in February 2022 to support the fabricated story. Technical analysis revealed several telltale signs of AI manipulation including unnatural lip movements, inconsistent facial expressions, robotic voice patterns, and periodic blurring around the mouth area. The fake video was published on a Facebook page called 'Green' created on August 30, 2024, with Russian text in the description. The video directed viewers to a suspicious website mimicking the Croatian Ministry of Health to purchase the non-existent Steplex product. This represents the third known case of deepfake videos targeting Croatian medical professionals for fraudulent product promotion, following similar incidents involving scientist Ivan Dikic and neurologist Zoran Dogas.
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
