Deepfake Investment Ad Scam: How It Works, Warning Signs & What To Do
Ads that use a fake celebrity or executive video to push a trading site.
Some investment ads use a generated face and voice of a famous person, a news anchor, or a company executive. The ad sends you to a trading site or a chat that asks for a deposit. The endorsement is the bait. This page is general safety guidance. It does not describe a specific case.
What to do if targeted
- 1Leave the ad and do not deposit
- 2Check the person's official site or verified account for the same offer. If it is not there, treat the ad as fake
- 3If you already sent money, contact the exchange or bank you used
- 4Report to FBI IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov
- 5Report to FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
- 6Report the ad on the platform where you saw it
Questions
If I recognize the person in the ad, is the investment real?
No. A familiar face in an ad is not a confirmation. Look for the same announcement on a source you already trust. Do not use the contact details inside the ad.
I connected my wallet to the site in the ad. What now?
Stop using that site. Move any remaining assets to a new wallet, and revoke token approvals if you granted them. Then report it to the FBI IC3 and the FTC.
Is this the same thing as a fake video meeting?
Both use a generated likeness. An investment ad tries to recruit strangers. A video-call scam usually targets one employee or one victim inside a meeting. The video-call case we have sourced is on the deepfake video call page.