Deepfakes of Elon Musk are pushing crypto giveaway scams on YouTube Live

Deepfakes of Elon Musk Push Cryptocurrency Scams on YouTube Live

In a shocking turn of events, a deepfake video of Elon Musk has been used to promote a cryptocurrency scam on YouTube Live. The video, which has since been taken down, showed a fake version of Musk instructing viewers to deposit their bitcoin, Ethereum, or Dogecoin in order to participate in a giveaway. The message promised that the system would then “automatically send back double the amount of cryptocurrency you deposited.”

The scam was uncovered when the video began circulating on social media, with many users expressing concern and disbelief at the fake Musk’s claims. The video had been live for five hours and had garnered over 30,000 viewers, with some users even posting positive comments and thanking “Musk” for the opportunity to participate in the giveaway.

However, upon closer inspection, it became clear that something was amiss. The video’s audio did not match the video’s visuals, and the voice sounded more like a robotic imitation of Musk rather than the real thing. Furthermore, the channel hosting the video had an Official Artist Channel verification badge, which seemed suspicious given that it was not an official Tesla or SpaceX account.

After Engadget reached out to Google, both the video and the channel were removed. It is still unclear how the scammers managed to obtain the verification badge, but it is possible that they hacked into an existing account or created a new one with the intention of masquerading as Tesla.

This incident highlights the growing trend of deepfake scams on social media platforms, particularly those involving cryptocurrency giveaways. In recent months, there have been several instances of scammers using deepfakes of Musk and other celebrities to promote similar scams. In April, for example, scammers used a deepfake of Musk to promote an eclipse-themed cryptocurrency giveaway on Reddit.

Moreover, this is not the first time that Elon Musk has been targeted by scammers on social media. In 2018, a fake Twitter account pretending to be Musk promised to send a Tesla Model S to anyone who sent the account a small payment in bitcoin. Similar scams have also targeted other celebrities, such as 50 Cent, who was hit by a hack that used his accounts to carry out a pump-and-dump scheme just last week.

The rise of deepfake technology has made it increasingly difficult for social media platforms to detect and remove scams like these. While YouTube’s AI-powered moderation tools are designed to flag and remove content that violates its policies, such as hate speech or violent content, the use of deepfakes can make it harder to distinguish between real and fake videos.

In response to the growing threat of deepfake scams, social media platforms have begun taking steps to address the issue. YouTube, for example, has introduced a feature that allows users to report suspicious activity in live streams, while Twitter has implemented measures to prevent fake accounts from spreading misinformation.

Despite these efforts, it is clear that more needs to be done to protect users from deepfake scams. In the meantime, it is important for social media platforms to remain vigilant and proactive in detecting and removing suspicious content. Additionally, users must also remain cautious when interacting with live streams and videos online, as the lines between reality and fiction can be increasingly blurred in the digital age.

In conclusion, the deepfake video of Elon Musk promoting a cryptocurrency scam on YouTube Live highlights the growing threat of deepfake technology and its potential to be used for nefarious purposes. While social media platforms and users must remain vigilant in detecting and removing such content, it is also important to recognize the potential benefits of deepfake technology when used ethically and responsibly. As we continue to navigate this complex digital landscape, it is crucial that we stay informed, skeptical, and proactive in the face of emerging technologies like deepfakes.