On June 6, cybercriminals targeted space enthusiasts by creating multiple live streams featuring deepfakes of Elon Musk during SpaceX’s fourth test launch of its Starship rocket, as reported by Avast Threat Labs.
Coinciding with the actual SpaceX live stream showing the rocket’s re-entry and splashdown in the Indian Ocean, over 35 YouTube channels broadcasted fake Elon Musk.
Using AI-generated voices that mimicked Musk’s speech patterns, the scammers promised to double viewers’ Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE), or Tether (USDT) investments, enticing them to scan a QR code and deposit their crypto.
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The streams featured footage of Musk at a SpaceX event, with some blurring the face to obscure the deepfake. The AI-generated voices continuously assured viewers the giveaway was genuine.
The number of victims remains uncertain, and the streams have since been removed.
This isn’t the first time such scams have surfaced. In April, Mysk researchers uncovered similar fake SpaceX YouTube accounts using AI-generated Musks to promote the same double-your-money scheme during a solar eclipse.
As AI-generated content becomes more advanced, viewers must remain cautious and verify the authenticity of online streams and promotional offers, especially when they involve financial transactions.
Warren Buffet, a shareholder at Berkshire Hathaway, has likened AI’s disruptive potential to that of nuclear weapons after seeing a deepfake mimicking him.
Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era. With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers. Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it and make it more approachable to complete beginners. Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends and looking for the next supernova.
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