AI-Generated Deepfake of Polish Former First Lady Used in Financial Scam
Scammers created AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating former Polish First Lady Jolanta Kwaśniewska to promote a fake government program promising monthly payments to seniors aged 50+. Multiple victims were defrauded after clicking links in the sponsored posts that led to fraudulent websites, and Kwaśniewska reported the matter to police and announced legal action.
What happened
AI-generated deepfake videos of Jolanta Kwaśniewska, Poland's former First Lady, were posted as sponsored content on social media. The videos depicted Kwaśniewska encouraging people to enroll in a fake government program purportedly offering monthly payments of 3,000 Polish zloty to citizens aged 50+.
The fraudulent advertisements included links to fake websites designed to extract money from victims. One victim called Aleksandra Kwaśniewska, the former First Lady's daughter, after losing money to the scam and believing the deepfake was authentic.
Reported impact
Multiple people aged 50+ fell victim to the fraud. One victim was so distressed that she called Aleksandra Kwaśniewska, still believing despite the deepfake that the former First Lady was actually promoting the fraudulent program.
The deepfake was described as 'very credible' in its production quality, which helped convince some victims of its authenticity despite efforts by some online users to flag it as false.
Index analysis
The scam deliberately targeted older adults by using the likeness and reputation of a trusted public figure to build credibility for a fraudulent government program offer.
Governance controls
Jolanta Kwaśniewska reported the scam to police and announced plans to pursue legal action. Her foundation Porozumienie Bez Barier submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Digitalization for an educational program to increase public awareness about disinformation and online fraud.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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