AI deepfake video of Alain Delon used in inheritance scam
Scammers used generative AI to create deepfake videos of deceased actor Alain Delon promising inheritance money to French social media users. The fraudsters directed targets to download a fake casino app designed to steal banking and personal data.
What happened
Days after Alain Delon's death on 18 August 2024, a deepfake video of the actor circulated on Facebook and social media. In the AI-generated video, Delon allegedly promised to distribute 100,000 euros or 4,000 euros per person to French viewers, explaining he wanted to redistribute part of his fortune.
The video directed viewers to a fake casino application called 'Casino Delon' via a fake Google Play Store site. Once downloaded, the software allegedly captured users' personal and banking data for theft.
Reported impact
The scam targeted vulnerable internet users during the period immediately following the actor's death. Victor Baissait, who tracks scammers on social media, described the fraud method: depositors were either falsely told they had won large sums to encourage larger deposits, or blocked from accessing funds after the first deposit.
Index analysis
The deepfake combined AI-generated video with cloned speech to impersonate Delon, making the synthetic content appear credible to less cautious viewers. The scammers capitalized on public attention to Delon's recent death and used urgency and the promise of inheritance money to manipulate targets.
Governance controls
The account 'Méta-Brouteur', which tracks online fraud, identified and publicly warned about the scam. Le Point Français account shared the deepfake on Facebook with pressure tactics to convince hesitant users to participate.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.