Deepfake Trump Crypto Scam Alarms Viewers During Football Broadcast
On October 2nd, Illinois resident Emily Miller and her family encountered a suspicious cryptocurrency ad featuring Donald Trump during what they believed was the official broadcast of the Northwestern Football Game on the Fox News YouTube channel. The ad, which has since gained over 739K views on Emily’s Instagram post, displayed a deepfake video of Trump standing in the White House, urging viewers to scan a QR code with the message “Scan or regret.” The video lacked Trump’s usual mannerisms and included a lengthy, unnatural script promoting a cryptocurrency giveaway.
Emily followed the QR code, which led to a website filled with images of Trump, designed to push a cryptocurrency scam. She and her family quickly realized the video was fake, noting inconsistencies such as Trump’s unnatural speech and lack of movement. Further research confirmed the ad was part of a scam using deepfake technology to trick people into giving away their cryptocurrency. Emily expressed her alarm, calling the experience ‘dystopian hell’ and highlighting the growing concern over AI-driven fraud.
The incident reflects a broader trend of cryptocurrency scams exploiting the public’s interest in crypto. Cloudflare reported that such scams often use deepfake technology and credible-looking websites to manipulate victims. The FBI reported losses exceeding $5.6 billion in 2023 due to similar frauds, which frequently employ ‘crypto drainers’ to empty digital wallets once victims approve fraudulent transactions. In May, the DOJ indicted two North Macedonian citizens for misusing Trump’s image to promote ‘Trump Bucks,’ a fictitious financial instrument falsely linked to the President.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton emphasized the deceit behind the scheme, stating that the defendants falsely claimed ‘Trump Bucks’ was affiliated with President Trump’s re-election campaign. This latest incident underscores the increasing sophistication of crypto scams and the need for vigilance in identifying AI-generated fraudulent content.