With the rise of AI and deepfake technology, Americans of all ages have fallen for online scams promoted by images of popular celebrities. It turns out scammers have some go-to celebs to use to ensnare their victims.
Computer security company McAfee just released its list of the top celebrities used for online impersonation scams in 2024, and it includes some well-known actors with decades in the industry as well as younger stars on their way up in Hollywood.
"With cybercriminals using advanced AI tools to create more convincing scams, the risks are growing, and celebrity names are the perfect bait for curious consumers," McAfee head of threat research Abhishek Karnik told The Hollywood Reporter. “That’s why people need to stay vigilant and think twice before clicking. While AI-generated content isn’t always harmful, it’s becoming harder to tell what’s real and what’s fake."
Topping the list is acclaimed actress Scarlett Johansson. Coincidentally, the Black Widow star spoke out against the AI use of her voice earlier this year when OpenAI seemingly used her voice for their virtual assistant technology despite Johansson herself turning down an offer to license her voice for the project.
The likenesses of other A-list celebrities like Taylor Swift, Sydney Sweeney, Johnny Depp, and Blake Lively have been used to swindle people online. The most common use has been for false celebrity endorsements and giveaway and crypto scams. Former president Donald Trump even used a Taylor Swift deepfake to imply the pop star endorsed him in the 2024 presidential race.
Read up on the top 10 below and beware if you get any messages from any of them.
