Advanced artificial intelligence scams impersonating famous celebrities have led to unprecedented warnings from Hollywood stars. This surge in sophisticated scams has resulted in several victims losing millions to deceptive technology, with a woman recently losing thousands through a scam using an AI-generated likeness of Brad Pitt.
An alert was issued by representatives of Brad Pitt after an AI-based scam led to a French woman losing $850,000. The victim, a 53-year-old interior decorator identified as Anne, was deceived for a year and a half into believing she was in communication with Pitt through counterfeit social media and WhatsApp accounts. The scammers, posing as Pitt and his mother, convinced her that he required money for kidney cancer treatment and that his bank accounts were blocked by his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie. The victim only discovered the scam after news reports about Pitt’s actual new girlfriend came to light.
Pitt’s representative stated, “It is awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities,” adding that Pitt does not use social media and fans should ignore any unsolicited messages claiming to be from him.
Johnny Depp has also highlighted the threat of AI, alerting his fans about the potential of scammers replicating his face and voice through AI technology. His warning is part of a larger response from celebrities to the growing sophistication of impersonation scams.
Tom Hanks has consistently alerted his followers about scams involving AI impersonations, especially fraudulent ads using his likeness. “There’s a video out there promoting some dental plan with my image in it. I have nothing to do with it,” articulated Hanks. He has also warned fans about unauthorized AI-generated ads for “miracle cures and wonder drugs” across multiple platforms.
Other well-known figures, including Gayle King and MrBeast, have joined the chorus of warnings about AI-generated “deepfake” content falsely showing them endorsing products or services. These AI-manipulated images and videos are becoming increasingly challenging to differentiate from genuine content, raising fears about potential extensive fraud.
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has prioritized AI protection in its negotiations with major Hollywood studios. The union is working to establish robust protections for actors against unauthorized use of their likeness, voice, or performances due to the escalating threat of AI exploitation.
In an attempt to address this issue, a bipartisan group of senators has introduced the NO FAKES Act. This legislation aims to provide increased legal protections for individuals and prevent unauthorized use of their voices and likenesses due to the rapid advancement of AI technology outpacing current regulatory frameworks.
French authorities have started a formal investigation into the Brad Pitt impersonation scam, focusing on identifying the complex network behind it. The victim, following online harassment after the scam was made public, has been hospitalized with severe depression, underlining the severe personal impact of these scams.
In England and Wales, the emergence of AI-generated deepfakes has led to legal modifications, particularly related to their use in pornography. The government has reinforced laws to facilitate the prosecution of those creating and distributing such content without consent, reflecting the mounting international worry about AI misuse.
Law enforcement agencies report that these AI-driven scams represent a significant evolution in fraud techniques. Criminals are now using advanced technology to create convincing fake profiles, messages, and deepfake videos that challenge traditional verification methods, often promising personal connections, VIP access, investment opportunities, or charity support to exploit the emotional connections between celebrities and their fans.