AI-generated deepfake of Steven Bartlett used in investment scam on Instagram
A deepfake video purporting to show entrepreneur Steven Bartlett promoted a fake WhatsApp investment group offering stock tips with promised 35% returns in seven days. The scam used the synthetic video to lure people into sharing contact details for subsequent fraud.
What happened
A deepfake video circulated on Instagram that depicted Steven Bartlett, the entrepreneur and podcast host, inviting users to join an exclusive WhatsApp trading group. The synthetic video showed 'Bartlett' claiming he was offering stock tips that would climb 35% in seven days.
Bartlett's team confirmed the video was an AI-generated scam unrelated to him, stating: 'This is a scam. We are working with the platforms to have the content removed and accounts blocked.'
Reported impact
Scammers used the fake video to lure people into sharing contact details, which could be used for repeated fraud targeting. The article notes that investment scams stole more than £56 million from savers in the first six months of 2024, with social media campaigns and fake celebrity endorsements among common tactics.
Index analysis
While some users identified the video as fake, scammers rely on the fact that even a small fraction of thousands of viewers may fall for the scam. Meta stated it was cracking down on fake accounts and celebrity scam videos, but the technology was not catching all such content.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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