AI-Generated Deepfake Scam Exploits Alain Chabat's Image
A fraudulent website falsely attributed investment advice to French actor Alain Chabat using deepfaked or misrepresented images and a forged Le Monde article to promote a scam investment program called Cronetrix Form. Chabat's team warned the public that the actor had no connection to the scheme and was urging people not to be victimized.
What happened
A fraudulent website using the logo of French newspaper Le Monde published a fake written interview with actor Alain Chabat, illustrated with images from an old interview.
The scam promoted Cronetrix Form, a supposed investment program offering easy enrichment through banking and social investment programs.
Alain Chabat's agent confirmed the actor's image and statements were used without his knowledge as part of what he described as 'a pure fraud'.
Reported impact
The scam was designed to exploit gullible internet users by abusing their trust and tricking them into accessing the fraudulent site or similar schemes.
Chabat sought to warn the public to prevent others from becoming victims of this type of fraud.
Index analysis
With the rise of generative AI, this type of fraud is multiplying in increasingly sophisticated forms.
Similar scams have targeted other French personalities, including a video using the image of deceased actor Alain Delon viewed over two million times on social media to promote an online casino.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.