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The Verge·

🚨AI Scammers Impersonate Celebs to Steal Data

Deepfake scammers are targeting celeb fans with TikTok ads

TL;DR

AI-generated videos of celebrities like Taylor Swift and Rihanna are being used in scam ads on TikTok, redirecting users to third-party services that ask for personal info. The deepfake problem is widespread across social platforms.

Scammers are using AI-generated videos to impersonate celebrities such as Taylor Swift and Rihanna, tricking fans into giving out personal information through fake rewards programs. These ads often appear on TikTok and other major social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. The deepfake issue is so severe that Meta's oversight board has acknowledged it, with YouTube investing heavily to combat these scams. Celebrities are now taking legal action; Taylor Swift recently filed new trademark applications for clips of her voice to protect against AI copycats.

AI Scammers Impersonate Celebs to Steal Data — The Verge

Key Points

1

AI scammers impersonate celebrities like Taylor Swift and Rihanna in TikTok ads, redirecting users to third-party services for personal info.

2

TikTok's official branding appears in some of these scam ads but redirects users to external sites asking for sensitive data.

3

YouTube is investing heavily in combating celebrity deepfake scams on its platform, acknowledging the widespread issue across social media.

4

Celebrities are taking legal action; Taylor Swift filed new trademark applications for clips of her voice to protect against AI copycats.

5

Meta's oversight board has acknowledged a deepfake problem with billions of scam ads seen daily by users on Meta platforms.

Why It Matters

If you're active on social media, especially TikTok or other major platforms, these scams could hit close to home. Celebrities like Taylor Swift are taking legal action against AI copycats, but the issue remains widespread and dangerous for everyday users.

AIDeepfakesScamsSocial MediaData Security

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this matter?

If you're active on social media, especially TikTok or other major platforms, these scams could hit close to home. Celebrities like Taylor Swift are taking legal action against AI copycats, but the issue remains widespread and dangerous for everyday users.

What happened?

AI-generated videos of celebrities like Taylor Swift and Rihanna are being used in scam ads on TikTok, redirecting users to third-party services that ask for personal info. The deepfake problem is widespread across social platforms.

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