Deepfake investment ads and WhatsApp photo extortion scams surge in Europe

Researchers report that deepfake videos are being used in sophisticated investment scams that impersonate celebrities such as Elon Musk and finance guru Martin Lewis. The AI‑generated clips mimic lighting, facial mapping and voice with minimal artifacts, making them hard to spot on mobile devices. Scammers pair these fake endorsements with counterfeit news‑site designs to lure victims into depositing money, resulting in reported losses of over £10 million a year in the United Kingdom and a 25% rise in damages in Australia.

In the Czech Republic a related fraud technique spreads via WhatsApp: a single‑view photo is sent, and once opened the recipient is bombarded with threatening messages claiming they have viewed illegal content. Fraudsters pose as police or officials, demanding payment to avoid prosecution. Authorities advise victims not to send money, to block the sender and report the incident.

Both schemes exploit advanced AI and social‑engineering tactics, highlighting the growing financial risk of online fraud that crosses national borders.