Criminals used deepfake videos of Elon Musk, Taylor Swift to promote fake crypto investments.

The Department of Justice announced charges against 23 individuals operating a sophisticated scam network that used AI-generated deepfake videos of celebrities to promote fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. The operation created convincing videos of Elon Musk, Taylor Swift, MrBeast, and other celebrities appearing to endorse fake investment platforms. Victims across 40 countries lost approximately $150 million before the scheme was uncovered. The fake videos were so realistic that even media outlets initially reported some as genuine. The DOJ warns that AI-generated content has become nearly impossible to distinguish from real footage. Experts recommend extreme skepticism of any celebrity investment endorsements, especially those promoting cryptocurrency or promising guaranteed returns.