Deepfake videos of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince William are being used to promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform on social media, reaching nearly 900,000 people.
The scam, which uses AI-generated videos, has raised concerns about online disinformation and the misuse of public figures' images.
Key Takeaways
- AI deepfake videos of Keir Starmer and Prince William are being used in a cryptocurrency scam.
- The scam has reached nearly 900,000 people on Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
- The fraudulent ads promote a platform called “Immediate Edge.”
- Victims are led to a fake trading platform and encouraged to deposit money.
- Meta and Google have taken steps to remove the fraudulent ads.
The Scam Unveiled
The deepfake videos feature AI-generated versions of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince William, endorsing a scam cryptocurrency trading platform named “Immediate Edge.” These videos have been used in over 250 adverts on Meta platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, reaching an estimated 890,000 people.
In one of the fake adverts, the AI-generated Keir Starmer says, “Your life is about to change. I am Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the Labour Party. I have been waiting for you. Today is your lucky day. I don't know how you found this page, but you won't regret it.” The advert claims that 45 individuals have been selected to earn “life-changing money” through a mysterious project, promising daily earnings of £1,000 without needing any prior knowledge or special skills.
Another fraudulent advertisement features an AI-generated Prince William saying, “I am pleased to announce that I, Prince William, and the entire royal family fully support Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s initiative and his new platform.”
How the Scam Works
When users click on the fake links in these adverts, they are directed to a landing page asking for their name, phone number, and email address. Victims are then contacted and encouraged to deposit money into a fake online trading platform. Scammers typically show a fake portfolio making gains, encouraging victims to deposit more money.
The Impact and Response
According to data from Meta’s advertising platform, up to £21,053 was spent on these ads, which represent 43% of all Meta adverts about Keir Starmer. The research, conducted by media insight and research firm Fenimore Harper, found that Google mistakenly promoted the disinformation. If a user searched for “immediate edge finance scam,” the result on Google was: “When it comes to Immediate Edge you can be assured that you are dealing with legitimate trading software.”
Marcus Beard, founder of Fenimore Harper, stated, “Our findings show that more must be done to curb online disinformation. These campaigns can now impersonate well-known figures with ease and sow disinformation online at an unprecedented rate. They pose a huge risk to individuals, public figures, businesses, and to our democracy.”
Measures Taken
A spokesperson for Meta said, “Our systems detected and removed the vast majority of these adverts before this report was published. As part of our ads review process—which can include both automated and human reviews—we have several layers of analysis and detection, both before and after an ad goes live. It is against our policies to run ads that improperly use images of public or political figures for deceptive purposes, and we remove these ads when detected.”
A Google spokesperson added, “Our advanced spam-fighting systems help keep Google Search 99 per cent spam-free, despite ever-evolving attempts from spammers. We have clear spam policies against deceptive tactics and when we find behaviour that violates our policies, we take action.”
Conclusion
The use of AI deepfake technology in scams is a growing concern, highlighting the need for increased transparency and stricter regulations in online advertising. Public figures and platforms must work together to combat the spread of disinformation and protect individuals from falling victim to such fraudulent schemes.
Sources
- Cryptocurrency scam using AI deepfake videos of Keir Starmer and Prince William | The Independent, The Independent.
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince William deepfaked in investment scam campaign, Bitdefender.
Keir Starmer and Prince William used in deepfake crypto scam
, Finextra Research.- Cryptocurrency scammers using AI deep fake videos of Keir Starmer and Prince William to target victims, Yahoo News UK.
- Deepfakes of Prince William Lure Social Media Users into an Investment Scam | McAfee Blog, McAfee.
