TechFlow reports, according to a recent study by UK-based analysis firm Fenimore Harper, that cybercriminals have used deepfake videos of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince William to run over 250 ads on Meta platforms, aiming to trick victims into sending funds to cryptocurrency scams.
The research found that since the UK general election, 43% of Meta ads featuring Starmer's likeness were linked to cryptocurrency scams, with these ads estimated to have reached up to 891,834 people. Scammers used artificial intelligence to mimic Starmer’s voice and alter videos, creating deepfake content to promote a scam known as "Immediate Edge."
Criminals spent approximately £21,025 (nearly $27,000) on this campaign, purchasing ads using currencies from 14 countries, with US dollars and Thai baht accounting for about 75% of total spending.
