Deepfake Video of Shakira Used in Cryptocurrency Investment Scam in Colombia
A deepfake video of Colombian singer Shakira, created with artificial intelligence, was used on Facebook to recruit victims for a cryptocurrency investment scam. A teacher in Soacha lost all her savings after being deceived by the high-quality video and promises of rapid returns, then pressured for additional payments when she tried to withdraw funds.
What happened
A deepfake video created with artificial intelligence showing singer Shakira promoting a cryptocurrency investment platform was posted on Facebook and used to recruit victims for a scam.
Dina Marcela Álvarez, a 37-year-old teacher in Soacha, Colombia, found the video and registered on the promoted platform. After an initial transfer of one million pesos, she was guided by supposed advisors through the registration process.
The platform displayed fictitious gains to build confidence, but when Álvarez attempted to withdraw funds, the scammers demanded additional payments to 'release' the money before disappearing with her savings.
Reported impact
Álvarez lost all her savings, which she had intended to use towards her personal goals. She was unable to recover the money after discovering the fraud.
Index analysis
The scam followed a pattern identified across multiple cases: use of artificial intelligence-generated videos featuring public figures, immediate contact after registration, simulation of platform gains, and demands for additional payments to unlock withdrawals.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.