AI video investment scams seize €120,000 in Germany and thousands in Austria

In the Bavarian district of Altötting, investigators uncovered a fraud scheme that used AI‑generated videos featuring celebrity‑like presenters to promote bogus cryptocurrency investments. A victim lost more than €120,000 after the scammers combined the deep‑fake videos with shock‑call tactics and pressured him to act immediately. Police in Traunstein arrested a suspect linked to the operation, noting that the fraud often escalates from the advertisement to the hand‑over of funds.

A similar attack occurred in Innsbruck, Austria, where a 32‑year‑old man was drawn into a social‑media advertising video promising easy online earnings. He was added to large WhatsApp and Telegram groups and persuaded to transfer money to foreign accounts, resulting in a high four‑digit euro loss. Austrian police continue their investigation.

Both cases illustrate how AI‑enhanced deepfakes are being weaponised to increase the credibility of social‑engineering scams, prompting law‑enforcement agencies in Germany and Austria to warn the public and explore technical countermeasures.