AI-Generated Deepfake of Uruguay Minister Used in Investment Scam
Uruguay's Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining alerted the public to a fraudulent social media post featuring an AI-generated deepfake video and synthetic voice of Minister Fernanda Cardona promoting a non-existent investment program. The ministry confirmed the scam and advised citizens to use only official channels to verify government programs.
What happened
The Ministerio de Industria, Energía y Minería (MIEM) issued an alert on January 9, 2026 about a fraudulent publication circulating on social media using an AI-manipulated video of Minister Fernanda Cardona. The video, titled "New product for the world of technology," features synthetic audio and visuals of the minister promoting a non-existent investment program called "Programa de inversión ciudadana UTE 2026." All words spoken in the video were generated using AI voice alteration technology.
Reported impact
The scam aimed to obtain personal data or commit fraud by misusing the minister's image and likeness, according to the MIEM alert. The ministry advised the public to use only official communication channels and report suspicious information to the Cibercrimen unit of the Ministerio del Interior.
Governance controls
The MIEM publicly warned citizens about the fraudulent content and directed them to verify information through official channels only.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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