Deepfake-Based Facebook Impersonation Targets Fundraising for Scot in Coma
A fraudster created a fake Facebook account using deepfake images to impersonate Teigan McMahon while she was fundraising for her father's medical emergency in Turkey. The scam reportedly paused legitimate donations when discovered.
What happened
A fraudster created a fake Facebook account impersonating Teigan McMahon, a 20-year-old from Glasgow, while she was fundraising for her father Peter who suffered a heart attack in Turkey and remained in a coma.
The fake profile used deepfake images and photos ripped from Teigan's legitimate posts to create posts impersonating her and directing people to her GoFundMe fundraiser. The account claimed to be located in Dallas, Texas.
Reported impact
Teigan McMahon paused her GoFundMe fundraiser on November 26 after discovering the fraudulent account, which remained active despite her attempts to take it down.
The family had raised ยฃ9,505 of their ยฃ12,000 target for Peter's hospital costs in Turkey before donations were paused due to the scam.
Index analysis
The incident involved the use of deepfake image synthesis and impersonation tactics to exploit a real family crisis and attempt to redirect charitable donations.
Governance controls
Facebook reportedly took down the fake profile, but the account remained visible to Teigan despite removal attempts.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.