Scammer used AI voice and video cloning to impersonate rapper Fat Joe targeting aspiring artist
A scammer used AI-powered voice and video cloning to impersonate rapper Fat Joe and target aspiring artist Cherelle Kozak with a fake music industry opportunity, requesting payment before she discovered the deception. According to the Better Business Bureau, similar impersonation scams cost Texans over $2 million in 2024.
What happened
A scammer contacted Cherelle Kozak, an aspiring artist and director at CBS Austin News, via text message impersonating rapper Fat Joe. The scammer used AI-generated video and audio to make a convincing video call in which the impersonated rapper claimed to want to submit one of Kozak's songs to a radio station and potentially sign her to his platform.
Kozak was directed to upload her songs to a portal and was then asked to pay money to have her songs played on the radio. She discovered the scam after conducting a Google search and finding a post from the real Fat Joe warning fans about the impersonation scam.
Reported impact
The Better Business Bureau reports that Texans lost more than $2 million to impersonation scams in 2024. The scam exploits the difficulty people face in distinguishing between real and AI-generated video and audio calls.
Index analysis
According to the Better Business Bureau's Senior Director of Media Relations, the AI technology can map a three-second video clip of a person onto a scammer's face to replicate voice and lip movements. This makes the impersonation extremely difficult to detect without verification through alternative channels.
Governance controls
The Better Business Bureau advises people to avoid oversharing online, resist acting immediately on offers from virtual contacts, and verify identities through multiple channels before engaging. Victims are encouraged to file reports with the BBB to help identify and prosecute scammers.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.