YouTube was recently flooded with more than 35 deepfake videos of Elon Musk, along with fake SpaceX crypto giveaways, during the SpaceX starship rocket launch. The scammers targeted space enthusiasts who were eager to witness the launch.
A cybersecurity report on June 6 revealed that over 35 YouTube channels live-streamed deepfake videos of Elon Musk promising to double crypto deposits. Avast Threat Labs cybersecurity experts uncovered that scammers had taken over these YouTube pages.
One of the fake YouTube channels that mimicked the SpaceX launch had a substantial 2.9 million subscribers but lacked a verification check mark, unlike the real SpaceX channel with 6.65 million subscribers and a verified check mark.
The deepfake videos featured wide-angle shots of Musk speaking at an outdoor event, with some footage blurred to appear authentic. The AI-generated voice of Elon Musk in the videos sounded convincing, with phrases like “You have a chance to see your crypto propel exponentially as our rocket propels toward the stars” being used.
The scammers mimicked Musk’s vocal patterns, including stutters, pauses, and words like “Umm” at human-like intervals. The video promoted investing in Bitcoin and potential profits for investors, directing viewers to scan a QR code and send cryptocurrencies to an address controlled by the scammers.
During the fake SpaceX crypto giveaway, viewers were promised double on every crypto deposit. Despite some SpaceX enthusiasts falling for the scam, the number of victims and funds collected remain unknown. YouTube has taken action by restricting the compromised pages for violating the platform’s terms of service.
This is not the first time Elon Musk has been targeted by scammers using his image for crypto scams. In previous instances, scammers used deepfake videos of Musk to promote fake crypto giveaways and investment opportunities, deceiving unsuspecting users.
It is important for users to remain vigilant and cautious when encountering such scams, especially when they involve high-profile individuals like Elon Musk. The cybersecurity threats posed by deepfake technology continue to highlight the importance of online security and awareness.