Deepfake videos of Portuguese public figures used in crypto trading scams
AI-generated deepfake videos of Portuguese political figures and journalists were used in cryptocurrency investment scams circulating on Facebook in September 2025. The fake videos impersonated Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and others to promote a fraudulent 'Immediate Growth' trading platform claiming to generate extreme returns from a 250-euro investment.
What happened
Since early September 2025, fake videos and advertisements circulated on Facebook featuring Portuguese public figures including Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, Mário Centeno, and Paulo Macedo, as well as journalists Joaquim Sousa Martins and Sandra Felgueiras.
The videos were AI-generated manipulations with apparently realistic images but fabricated audio and links to false news stories. They promoted a fake trading platform called 'Immediate Growth' claiming to generate profits of 20,000 to 30,000 euros per month with an initial investment of 250 euros.
Reported impact
The scam targeted Portuguese consumers with promises of earning up to 1,000 euros per day through the fake platform, with advertisements promoting 'a simple, quick and 100% safe way' to generate income.
Index analysis
The deepfake videos impersonated real public figures and journalists to create credibility. One deepfake showed an alleged speech by Montenegro before a background with PSD logo and CNN-style banner, claiming he had publicly endorsed the financial platform.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.