AI-Generated Saint Paisios Scam Defrauds Greek Faithful
Scammers in Greece used AI-generated video of the Orthodox saint Paisios to defraud believers, asking them to write 'Amen' and then directing them to websites to purchase products and take out loans. Priests and believers filed complaints with the Greek Cyber Crime Unit investigating the scheme.
What happened
Scammers used AI technology to create synthetic video content depicting Saint Paisios, a revered Orthodox Christian saint, making requests to believers. The AI-generated figure asks visitors to write the word 'Amen' if they believe in the Virgin Mary and the power of prayer to receive her blessing.
After users engage with the content by writing 'Amen', they are directed to specific websites offering products for sale. The scammers then solicit money from the unsuspecting victims. The AI-generated Saint Paisios also threatens that the Virgin Mary will be saddened and harm will come to those who do not write 'Amen' or purchase products.
Reported impact
Priests and believers have filed complaints with the Greek Cyber Crime Unit (Δίωξη Ηλεκτρονικού Εγκλήματος) regarding the misuse of Saint Paisios through AI. Father Ilias characterized the scheme as one involving a network that shamelessly exploits sacred things, impersonates priestly functions, and constitutes blasphemy by having saints demand 'Amen' while threatening misfortune to those who do not pay.
Index analysis
Legal expert Andreas Karagiannnis described this as a genuinely shocking scam in which scammers coerce vulnerable individuals into writing 'Amen' and then direct advertisements to them.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.