Deepfake videos of Malta's president used in crypto scams on social media
Deepfake videos and fake images of Malta's President Myriam Spiteri Debono are circulating on social media platforms to promote cryptocurrency investment scams. The Office of the President has issued warnings and is reporting the fraudulent profiles to authorities.
What happened
Several fraudulent pages and profiles impersonating President Myriam Spiteri Debono appeared on Facebook, X and Instagram. The scams used deepfake videos and fake photos of the President to promote cryptocurrency investment schemes.
Reported impact
The Office of the President warned the public of potential victims falling prey to the financial investment scams. Scam websites and social media profiles appear to be growing in numbers, with other public figures and news portals also being impersonated.
Governance controls
The Office of the President disassociated itself from the fraudulent content and urged the public to remain vigilant. It highlighted three official pages on Facebook, Instagram, and X as the legitimate channels for the President and stated it was immediately reporting fraudulent pages to relevant authorities.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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