Scammers stole the spotlight from Apple on September 9, 2024, regarding the launch of the iPhone 16, by attempting to trick potential buyers with deepfake videos of its CEO, Tim Cook.
Indeed, this shows the growing threat of AI-powered fraud, as cybercriminals begin to use high-profile events to trick unsuspecting victims into engaging in cryptocurrency scams.
The deepfake trap
During the “Glowtime” event, where Apple was showcasing its new features for iPhones, a number of live streams containing deepfakes of Tim Cook were broadcast on various platforms, including YouTube.
These seemingly legitimate streams prompted listeners to send a cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum or Tether, to a specific address in exchange for double the amount they had invested.
The scammers manipulated old footage of Cook, editing it with AI to create a convincing performance that fooled hundreds of thousands of viewers.
AI is becoming TOO good
355,000 people watch fake ‘Apple’ account on @youtube this is promoting a massive crypto scam lol
The reason there are so many viewers is because today’s speech at 12:00 CST@YouTubeCreators pic.twitter.com/O2ufpxdKnF
— BearPig 🧸🐷 (@BearPigCentral) September 9, 2024
One such deceptively created stream has racked up over 355,000 views, with the scammers going so far as to create a channel imitating Apple’s branding.
Adding a QR code to the videos so people knew where to scan and send their money further reinforced the illusion of legitimacy.
🚨Breakup 🚨
Apple’s US YouTube channel was hacked? There’s a fake AI video of TimCook streaming on it asking for bitcoins. 😱#AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/b2DOyhxBLL
– Abhishek Bhatnagar (@abhishek) September 9, 2024
Posing as Cook, the scammers then assured viewers that their investments would immediately pay dividends to the investor, claiming: “Once you make your deposit, the system will automatically process it and return to you double the amount of cryptocurrency you deposited.”
But once the victims sent their money, they were left with empty wallets and no recourse.
BTCUSD trading at $56,851 on the daily chart: TradingView.com
The consequences
YouTube responded quickly to the problem, removing the fake streams and deleting the associated accounts. But the damage had already been done by the time the scandal was satisfactorily resolved.
Internet users rushed to many social networks, including X, to share their experiences and alert others to the hoax. Some even expressed their outrage at the ease with which the scammers fooled a person as famous as Tim Cook, highlighting the need for greater vigilance in the digital age.
A call for awareness
This is not an isolated incident. Thanks to deepfake technology, scammers now have an easier time realistically impersonating popular personalities. Similar scams using deepfake images of Elon Musk circulated during the launch of SpaceX’s Starship rocket a few months ago.
You should be careful because cryptocurrency scams are becoming more common these days. The lure of quick money can cloud judgment and increase vulnerability to fraud. All offers should be verified to ensure their authenticity, especially those that seem too good to be true.
Featured image from The Star, chart from TradingView
