AI-Generated Deepfakes of French TV Star Émilien Used in Cryptocurrency Investment Scams
AI-generated deepfake images and videos of French television personality Émilien were used without his consent in fraudulent cryptocurrency investment advertisements circulating on social media. The fake ads falsely attributed investment advice and get-rich-quick claims to him, directing victims to fraudulent trading platforms and websites impersonating legitimate news outlets.
What happened
Émilien, a former champion of the French television show 'Les 12 Coups de midi', alerted the public on May 4, 2026, about fraudulent advertisements using AI-generated deepfakes of his image circulating widely on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter).
The fake advertisements falsely attributed statements to him promoting cryptocurrency investment platforms, including claims that he had become wealthy through trading and promises that viewers could 'become rich without leaving their couch' by investing in an AI-based cryptocurrency trading platform. Some fake ads falsely claimed he was being prosecuted by the Banque de France for televised statements.
Reported impact
The fraudulent ads directed consumers to fake articles impersonating legitimate French news outlets like Le Figaro, with fabricated interviews attributed to Émilien and television personality Yann Barthès of the program Quotidien, designed to lend credibility to investment scams.
Index analysis
This incident is part of a broader wave of AI-generated fraud targeting French celebrities. Other French personalities including Vincent Cassel, Francis Cabrel, Cyril Lignac, Elise Lucet, Karine Le Marchand, and Jamel Debbouze have reportedly had their identities misused in similar scams linking to cryptocurrency and online investment fraud.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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