10 Celebrities Most Targeted by Malicious Deepfake Scams and Dangerous Search Results

Impersonation scams are everywhere these days, and scammers like to pose as government officials, major corporations, or even politicians. But often they also pretend to be your favorite celebrities. You’ve probably seen deepfakes of celebrities promoting cryptocurrency, NFTs, or sketchy products (seriously, Tom Hanks isn’t promoting fake medical products here). There are a lot of famous faces involved in these scams, but if you’re wondering who the top targets were in 2024, I have a list for you below, along with some tips to avoid getting scammed.

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10 Celebrities Most Targeted by Malicious Deepfake Scams and Dangerous Search Results — Illustration of hacker at work

Cyber security company McAfee has compiled a handy list of the top 10 celebrities who have often been targets of malicious deepfake scams and risky search results. Topping the list is actor Scarlett Johansson, known for her roles in Marvel’s “Avengers” franchise and films like “Lucy” and “Lost in Translation.” Right behind her is media personality Kylie Jenner, famous for her beauty products. There are plenty of other big names on the list, so let’s dive in.

Scarlett Johansson’s name and likeness have been used in several advertisements and endorsements without her consent. Earlier this year, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, released an AI model called GPT-4o, which featured a voice output very similar to the actor’s. However, Ms. Johansson never gave permission for her voice to be used in the AI model. After hiring legal counsel and sending formal letters to OpenAI, the company removed the vote.

Kylie Jenner is a popular reality star and influencer whose name and likeness have been used without permission in social media giveaway scams and counterfeit Kylie Cosmetics products and websites.

Popular singer Taylor Swift has frequently been the target of scams involving unauthorized use of her name and likeness. These include fake celebrity endorsements for products she never promoted, ticket scams where fans are tricked into purchasing non-existent concert tickets, and fraudulent product giveaways.

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In addition, Swift’s image has been used in disinformation campaigns, including false political endorsements, despite the fact that she has been outspoken about supporting only specific causes and candidates.

Anya Taylor-Joy has fallen victim to a scam where her name and likeness, including fake social media accounts, were used for fraudulent giveaways without her consent. Additionally, misinformation has been spread through her image, especially about her roles in streaming series, leading to confusion among fans. Scammers have exploited her rising fame, especially after her success in “The Queen’s Gambit,” to deceive the public and capitalize on her popularity.

Tom Hanks has been the target of a scam in which his name and likeness were misused without his consent to promote “miracle cures” and “miracle drugs.” These scams often falsely associate the beloved actor with health products or treatments, misleading people into thinking he is endorsing them. The actor was forced to share a post on Instagram warning fans not to fall for ads that falsely used his name, likeness and voice to promote these drugs.

Singer Sabrina Carpenter has been the target of a scam in which her name and likeness have been used without consent to promote counterfeit ticket sales and promote a controversial app designed to create sexually explicit images.

Sydney Sweeney, an acclaimed actor known for her standout roles in hit series such as “Euphoria” and “The White Lotus,” has been exploited in a scam where her name and likeness were used without her consent to promote fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. These scams often falsely claim that the actress endorses various crypto investments, misleading fans into thinking they can trust her recommendations.

Blake Lively, known for her roles in “Gossip Girl” and “A Simple Favor,” has been the target of a scam in which her likeness was used without permission to promote fraudulent weight loss gummy products.

Johnny Depp, the famous actor known for his iconic roles in films such as ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and ‘Edward Scissorhands’, has fallen victim to a scam involving his image being misused without consent. His image has been exploited in various fraudulent activities, including giveaway fraud, cryptocurrency fraud and deceptive fundraising.

Addison Rae is a popular singer and social media influencer, best known for her viral dance videos on TikTok and her rising music career. However, her likeness has been used without permission in numerous scams, including false endorsements, fraudulent giveaways, and deceptive cryptocurrency promotions.

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Thanks to advances in generative AI, even individuals with no technical expertise can easily create fake personas of others. The lack of regulation in this area has paved the way for scams that can rob people of their hard-earned money. In addition to phishing scams and malware-laden links that exploit the popularity and reputation of celebrities to deceive their fans, these highly realistic video and audio clips can convincingly recreate a person’s likeness. This makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish whether the content is real or fake.

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1) Check sources: Always check the credibility of the source before trusting any content. Look for official accounts or reputable news sources to confirm information, especially if it concerns a celebrity or public figure.

2) Look for inconsistencies: Pay attention to details in videos or images. Deepfakes can contain subtle inconsistencies, such as unnatural facial movements, awkward lighting, or mismatched audio. If something seems wrong, trust your instincts and investigate further.

3) Invest in strong antivirus software: Protecting your devices with reliable antivirus software is critical when defending against deepfake scams and other cyber threats. These scams, including those that misuse celebrity images for fraudulent giveaways or unauthorized product recommendations, often use phishing emails, malicious websites, and malware-laden links to trick users.

Protecting your devices with reliable antivirus software can be an effective way to protect against deepfake scams and other cyber threats. Strong antivirus programs often include features that detect malicious websites and suspicious downloads and warn you about potential scams before engaging with them. Get my picks for the best antivirus protection winners of 2024 for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

4) Develop yourself: Stay up to date on the latest deepfake technology and the common scams associated with it. Understanding how deepfakes are created can make it easier for you to spot potential scams.

5) Use reverse image search: If you come across suspicious images or videos, use image search tools (such as Google Images) to see if the content has been modified or used in other misleading contexts.

Don’t let any nearby snoopers listen to your voicemail with this quick tip

AI is a useful technology, but also extremely dangerous. Bad actors have successfully used this technology to scam people and generate legitimate-looking phishing emails and messages that are virtually impossible to detect. Furthermore, because AI makes it all so easy and fast, cybercriminals can target people on an unprecedented scale. Companies developing these AI models must implement safeguards to prevent the technology from being exploited, and governments must enforce these safeguards.

Have you ever come across a deepfake or a scam using someone’s likeness? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Original article source: 10 Celebrities Most Targeted by Malicious Deepfake Scams and Dangerous Search Results