10 celebrities most likely to fall for malicious deepfake scams, dangerous search results

Impersonation scams are common these days, and scammers like to impersonate government officials, large corporations, or even politicians. But often they also pretend to be your favorite celebrities. You’ve probably seen celebrity dipfakes promoting cryptocurrency, NFTs, or shady products (seriously, Tom Hanks isn’t promoting bogus medical products here). Many famous people have been involved in these scams, but if you’re wondering who the main target was in 2024, I’ve got a list for you below, along with some tips on how to avoid getting scammed.

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10 celebrities most likely to fall for malicious deepfake scams, dangerous search results — Illustration of a hacker at work

Cyber security firm McAfee compiled a handy list of the top 10 celebrities who were frequently targeted by malicious deepfake scams and risky search results. Leading the list is actress Scarlett Johansson, known for her roles in Marvel’s Avengers franchise and films like Lucy and Lost in Translation. Right behind her is media personality Kylie Jenner, known for her cosmetics. There are many other big names on the list, so let’s dig into it.

Scarlett Johansson’s name and appearance were used without her permission in various advertisements. Earlier this year, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, released an AI model called GPT-4o that had a voice output very similar to that of an actor. However, Ms. Johansson never allowed her voice to be used in the AI model. After she hired legal counsel and sent official letters to OpenAI, the company removed the voice.

Kylie Jenner is a popular reality TV star and influencer whose name and likeness were used without permission for social media giveaway scams and fake Kylie Cosmetics products and websites.

The popular singer Taylor Swift is often the target of scams related to the unauthorized use of her name and image. These include fake celebrity ads for products she never promoted, ticket scams where fans are tricked into buying tickets to concerts that don’t exist, and fraudulent product giveaways.

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In addition, Swift’s image has been used in misinformation campaigns, including false political endorsements, despite the fact that she only openly supports specific causes and candidates.

Anya Taylor-Joy was the victim of a scam in which her name and photo, including fake social media accounts, were used without her consent for fraudulent giveaways. In addition, misinformation has been spread using her image, particularly regarding her roles in streaming series, leading to confusion among fans. Fraudsters used her growing popularity, especially after her success in The Queen’s Gambit, to mislead the public and capitalize on her popularity.

Tom Hanks was the target of a scam in which his name and likeness were used to advertise “miracle drugs” and “miracle drugs” without his consent. These scams often falsely associate a favorite actor with a health product or treatment, misleading people into thinking he’s endorsing them. The actor was forced to share a message on Instagram warning fans not to fall for ads that use his name, likeness and voice to promote these drugs.

Singer Sabrina Carpenter became the target of a scam when her name and likeness were used without permission to promote fake ticketing schemes and to advertise a controversial app designed to create sexual images.

Sidney Sweeney, a well-known actress known for her prominent roles in hit series such as Euphoria and White Lotus, was used in a scam where her name and likeness were used without her permission to promote fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. These scams often falsely claim that the actress endorses various crypto-investments, misleading fans into thinking they can trust her recommendations.

Blake Lively, known for her roles in Gossip Girl and A Simple Favor, has been the target of a scam where her image was used without permission to advertise fake slimming gum products.

Johnny Depp, the famous actor known for his iconic roles in films such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Edward Scissorhands, has been the victim of fraudsters who used his likeness without permission. His image has been used in various fraudulent activities, including giveaway scams, cryptocurrency schemes, and deceptive fundraising efforts.

Addison Rae is a popular singer and social media influencer, best known for her viral dance videos on TikTok and her burgeoning music career. However, her image has been used without permission in numerous scams, including fake confirmations, fraudulent giveaways, and deceptive cryptocurrency promotions.

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Thanks to advances in generative artificial intelligence, even people without technical expertise can easily create fake personas of others. The lack of regulation in this area has paved the way for scams that can rob people of their hard-earned money. Along with phishing scams and malware links that use celebrities’ popularity and reputation to trick their fans, these highly realistic video and audio clips can convincingly impersonate an individual. This makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish whether content is genuine or fake.

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1) Check the sources: Always check the credibility of the source before trusting any content. Look for official accounts or reputable news outlets to verify information, especially if it’s a celebrity or public figure.

2) Look for inconsistencies: Pay attention to details in videos or images. Deep fakes can have subtle inconsistencies, such as unnatural facial movements, awkward lighting, or inappropriate audio. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut and explore further.

3) Invest in powerful antivirus software: Protecting your devices with reliable antivirus software is critical to protecting against deep-pocketed fraud and other cyber threats. These scams, including those that use celebrity images for fraudulent giveaways or unauthorized product promotions, often rely on phishing emails, malicious websites, and malware links to trick users.

Protecting your devices with reliable antivirus software can be an effective way to protect against deep-pocketed fraud and other cyber threats. Reliable antivirus programs often include features that detect malicious websites and suspicious downloads, alerting you to potential scams before you deal with them. Get my pick of the best 2024 antivirus winners for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

4) Educate yourself: Stay up-to-date on the latest deepfake technologies and common scams related to them. Understanding how deepfakes are created can help you spot a potential scam more easily.

5) Use reverse image search: If you come across suspicious images or videos, use reverse image search tools (such as Google Images) to check whether the content has been altered or used in other misleading contexts.

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AI is a useful technology, but it is also extremely dangerous. Criminals have successfully used this technology for fraud, creating legitimate phishing emails and messages that are nearly impossible to detect. Also, because artificial intelligence makes it all so easy and fast, cybercriminals can attack people on an unprecedented scale. Companies developing these AI models must implement safeguards to prevent the technology from being exploited, and governments must enforce these safeguards.

Have you ever experienced a deepfake or scam that used someone’s likeness? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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