UMVA has learned that a brazen new scam has emerged, using artificially generated images and videos of prominent public figures to exploit vulnerable individuals online.
The scam, which appears to be part of a larger, coordinated effort, has already ensnared several high-profile victims, including Nigel Farage and Andrew Bailey. Fake adverts impersonating the Bank of England and other central banks are on the rise, designed to criminally exploit the public.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the scammers are using AI-generated images and videos to create convincing, yet fake, investment opportunities. These scams are linked to articles promoting dubious investment schemes, which Bailey has described as 'scams'.
The fake adverts are spreading rapidly online, with many of the images designed to look like video clips to encourage people to click. Bailey has urged everyone to stay vigilant and report these scams, allowing authorities to better root out digital deception and permanently remove the fraudsters responsible.
Farage took to social media to express his concern, posting on X: 'You may have seen some bizarre AI videos on this platform today. Whilst Andrew Bailey and I have our disagreements, I would never take it that far!' His comments highlight the growing concern among public figures about the misuse of their likenesses online.
Experts warn that this type of scam is part of a larger, global phenomenon, with cybersecurity specialists identifying a 'global, co-ordinated investment scam ecosystem' linked to Russian-language scammers pursuing financially motivated criminal activity.
Other prominent figures, including Martin Lewis, have also fallen victim to these scams. Lewis revealed that a viewer had contacted him, tearfully explaining how she had given money to a company she believed he had endorsed, and was now left with nothing to help with her disability.
The issue has sparked a strong response from politicians, with Tech Secretary Liz Kendall vowing to 'definitely act on this'. She expressed concern about the growing use of AI-generated fake images, saying: 'This is another issue we've already said we are looking at, because people have got to be able to trust what they see.'
