Scammers Use Musk Deep Fakes on YouTube to Dupe Crypto Investors During SpaceX Launch
Summary:
Scammers leveraged deep fake versions of Elon Musk on YouTube to dupe space enthusiasts watching SpaceX's Starship rocket launch. Over 35 channels live-streamed an AI-generated voice of Musk promising to double cryptocurrency investments. One channel impersonated an official SpaceX account and attracted around 170,000 viewers, likely bots to make the stream appear authentic. The videos have since been removed. The number of users tricked by the hoax is still unknown. This scam used Musk's known advocacy for cryptocurrencies, particularly Dogecoin, to lure victims.
Elon Musk's deep fake variants once again inundated YouTube this Thursday, as tricksters attempted to deceive space enthusiasts watching the latest SpaceX's Starship rocket launch. Avast Threat Labs' cybersecurity professionals revealed that more than 35 YouTube channels broadcasted a live stream featuring an AI-based fake voice of Musk, promising to double the cryptocurrency of those who invested in their scheme, according to a post dated June 6. These fraudulent broadcasts happened at the same time as Musk's SpaceX fourth test flight of the reusable Starship rocket. The authentic live stream showed the rocket successfully re-entering Earth's atmosphere and landing in the Indian Ocean as intended.
Cointelegraph discovered one YouTube channel, posing as an authorized SpaceX account, promoting three concurrent live streams airing the scam, with approximately 170,000 viewers, likely bots designed to make the stream seem genuine. These broadcasts were later removed. The live streams featured an extensive shot of Musk giving a speech at an outdoor SpaceX gathering with his face partially blurred to fool viewers. An AI voice, mimicking Musk, instructed viewers to send Bitcoin (BTC) or Ether (ETH) to a specific address with a promise of doubling their returns.
The AI voice proficiently mimicked Musk's vocal characteristics, like hesitations and pauses, assuring viewers that "this is not a fake, this is a real giveaway. I personally guarantee it to you.” The voice encouraged viewers, stating their crypto could skyrocket like their rocket, followed by a pre-recorded applauding audience sound clip. The number of viewers who fell for this hoax is unknown. Cointelegraph noticed a combined balance of roughly $34,000 in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin wallets seemingly belonging to three separate scammers, with multiple recent transactions recorded on June 6.
Given Musk's known advocacy for cryptocurrencies, particularly Dogecoin, his likeness is frequently utilized in crypto frauds. Security researchers Talal Haj Bakry and Tommy Mysk found similar fake SpaceX YouTube accounts airing live streams of AI-generated Musk advocating the same double-your-money swindle during a solar eclipse viewed in North America in April.
Last month, a firm that used deep fake videos of Musk to advertise its supposed AI crypto trading service was shut down by Hong Kong’s securities regulator. The firm claimed that Musk had developed the technology for its service.
Published At
6/7/2024 9:05:49 AM
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