Deepfake of Bermuda Premier David Burt Promotes Investment Scam
A deepfake video of Bermuda Premier David Burt, branded with Royal Gazette styling, circulated on Facebook promoting a fraudulent investment scheme. The Cabinet Office warned the public that the AI-generated video was a scam designed to exploit residents.
What happened
A fake AI-generated video featuring imagery of Premier David Burt circulated on Facebook with branding that falsely suggested it was related to The Royal Gazette and promoted a government investment scheme.
Reported impact
The Cabinet Office stated that individuals had been scammed in the past by similar fraudulent accounts using AI-generated images to mislead or exploit the public.
Index analysis
Fraudulent accounts copied the design of news outlets and used the likeness of public personalities to seem legitimate, with posts and direct messages claiming to represent the Premier or other Government officials.
Governance controls
The Cabinet Office warned that no government official will ever use social media to promote an investment and urged the public to verify the authenticity of social media accounts and only trust verified sources and official information from the Government of Bermuda.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.