PROJECT: EXPOSING AI-DEEPFAKE INVESTMENT SCAMS
- isabels39
- Jul 18
- 5 min read
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South Africans and online users globally are being warned about a new and deeply deceptive form of financial fraud:
artificial intelligence (AI)-driven investment scams. These scams are spreading rapidly across social media platforms,
YouTube, WhatsApp, and online ads, targeting people with false promises of guaranteed returns, often disguised as endorsements by well-known public figures.
This emerging scam trend uses advanced AI tools to manipulate video and audio content, creating the illusion that famous personalities such as U.S. President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Patrice Motsepe, or even local business leaders are promoting specific investment schemes. The fraudsters then pair these fabricated endorsements with fake testimonials, edited screenshots of "successful payouts," and fabricated news headlines to make their offers appear credible and urgent.
One clear example involves scammers misusing original footage and editing it to falsely make it seem as though he is endorsing a specific cryptocurrency or AI investment platform. These deepfake-style manipulations are polished, convincing, and extremely dangerous. Victims are lured into believing they are investing in a legitimate opportunity “backed” by a powerful or famous figure, only to lose their savings in unrecoverable schemes.
SCAM SUMMARY:
This particular scam uses:
A misleading image of Donald Trump, possibly deepfaked or taken out of context.
A fake testimonial from a so-called investor ("Marius Pretorius").
Claims of unrealistic earnings (R4,700 in a day, R70,000 in a month).
Logos of legitimate payment providers (PayPal, Visa, Mastercard) to look trustworthy.
An urgent call to action ('NEEM DEEL' - 'JOIN NOW') to pressure users into impulsive investment.
HOW THESE SCAMS TYPICALLY WORK:
AI-MANIPULATED CONTENT IS USED TO BUILD TRUST:
Fraudsters extract video or audio footage of a famous person and use AI tools to change their speech, facial expressions, or captions to endorse a fake investment product or platform.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND SEARCH ENGINE TARGETING:
These fake videos are widely shared through social media ads, YouTube, Google ads, or even sent directly through WhatsApp and Telegram groups.
The goal is to reach users who are already interested in crypto, trading, or passive income.
FALSE TESTIMONIALS AND SCREENSHOTS ARE SHARED:
Victims are shown fake “user reviews,” WhatsApp screenshots of money being paid out, or even fabricated bank statements.
All of these are designed to give the illusion of legitimacy and social proof.
PRESSURE TACTICS AND URGENCY ARE APPLIED:
Victims are told that the offer is only available for a limited time, or that they need to act fast to benefit from “automated trading powered by AI.”
Scammers may pretend to be financial advisors or customer service agents to answer questions.
INITIAL PAYOUTS MAY BE FAKED TO LURE FURTHER INVESTMENT:
Some victims receive small amounts initially to create trust.
They are then encouraged to invest larger sums, only to find their accounts frozen, their login access blocked, or the platform disappearing entirely.
RED FLAGS TO WATCH OUT FOR:
1. Unrealistic promises with guaranteed returns in short periods.
2. Fake endorsements that use celebrities or political figures without consent.
3. False testimonials showing fabricated stories from "happy investors."
4. AI or deepfake videos of faces like Donald Trump's may be altered to appear as endorsements.
5. A push to invest quickly using psychological pressure with a "limited time" offer.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS:
Do not trust ads with celebrity people promoting financial platforms.
Avoid platforms promising guaranteed or very high profits.
Never give out your banking details or invest on unverified websites.
Report these ads (where you see them) to Facebook, Instagram, Google, etc, immediately.
Educate your friends and family, especially the elderly and vulnerable.
WHY THESE SCAMS ARE SO DANGEROUS:
It appears professional and the videos and websites look authentic, often copying the branding of real companies or media outlets.
It exploits human psychology and trust in public figures is weaponised.
Victims blame themselves because the scam is so subtle, many do not realise they have been tricked until it is too late. Victims are often too embarrassed to report it.
It is hard to trace as these platforms operate offshore, use anonymous crypto payments, and often disappear overnight.
Specialised Security Services invites the public to the Mike Bolhuis Daily Projects WhatsApp Channel.
This channel is important in delivering insights into the latest crime trends, awareness, warnings and the exposure of criminals.
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Mike Bolhuis
Specialist Investigators into
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