Deepfake scam impersonates Moldovan Prime Minister on social media
Fraudulent advertisements using AI-generated deepfake video and audio of Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu appeared on Facebook and Instagram in February 2026, promising false earnings through a fake government program to deceive users into surrendering personal data. The Prime Minister publicly confirmed the deepfakes were fabricated and warned citizens against the scam.
What happened
Sponsored advertisements appeared on Facebook and Instagram in early February 2026 using artificially generated video and audio of Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu.
The deepfake videos promised earnings of 14,000 lei per month through a purported state program and directed viewers to enter personal data on dubious websites.
The accounts sponsoring the fraudulent advertisements had English names and were administered from countries including Vietnam and Ukraine.
Reported impact
The Prime Minister warned citizens that the deepfakes were designed to deceive them into providing personal data on suspicious websites.
The scam targeted the general public with false promises of financial gains through a non-existent government program.
Index analysis
The use of AI-generated deepfake video and voice synthesis allowed the scammers to create convincing fraudulent content impersonating a government official.
Governance controls
Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu issued a public warning and confirmed the videos were fabricated, instructing citizens not to access the links or enter personal data.
He urged users to report the advertisements directly on social media platforms and to seek information only from official government sources.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.