Nowadays, phishing scams are everywhere and scammers love to impersonate government officials, large corporations or even politicians. But they often impersonate your favorite celebrities, too. You’ve probably seen deepfakes of celebrities promoting cryptocurrencies, NFTs, or dubious products (seriously, Tom Hanks is not here promoting fake medical products). Many famous faces have been dragged into these scams, but if you’re wondering who the top targets were in 2024, I’ve got a list below, along with some tips to avoid getting scammed.
Illustration of hacker at work (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Hacker Celebrity Hot List of 2024
Cybersecurity company McAfee has put together a helpful list of the top 10 celebrities who have been frequent targets of malicious scams and risky search results. Topping the list is actress Scarlett Johansson, known for her roles in Marvel’s “Avengers” franchise and films such as “Lucy” and “Lost in Translation.” Right behind her is media personality Kylie Jenner, famous for her beauty products. There are plenty of other big names on the list, so let’s dive in.
1) Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson’s name and image have been used without her permission in various advertisements and promotions. Earlier this year, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, released an AI model called GPT-4o, which featured voice output that closely resembled that of the actor. However, Johansson never authorized the use of her voice in the AI model. After hiring legal counsel and sending formal letters to OpenAI, the company removed the voice.
“List of famous hackers” (McAfee) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
2) Kylie Jenner
Kylie Jenner is a popular reality television star and influencer whose name and likeness have been used without permission for social media giveaway scams and fake Kylie Cosmetics products and websites.
3) Taylor Swift
Popular singer Taylor Swift has been a frequent target of scams involving the unauthorized use of her name and image. These include fake celebrity endorsements for products she never promoted, ticket scams in which fans are tricked into purchasing tickets to non-existent concerts, and fraudulent product giveaways.
Beyond that, Swift’s image has been used in misinformation campaigns, including fake political endorsements, even though she expressed support only for specific causes and candidates.
4) Anya Taylor-Joy
Anya Taylor-Joy has been a victim of scams where her name and image, including fake social media accounts, were used without her consent for fraudulent promotions. Additionally, misinformation has been spread using her image, particularly about her roles in streaming series, causing confusion among fans. Scammers have exploited his growing fame, especially after his success in “The Queen’s Gambit,” to deceive the public and capitalize on his popularity.
5) Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks has been the target of scams in which his name and image were misused to promote “miracle cures” and “wonder drugs” without his consent. These scams often falsely associate the beloved actor with health products or treatments, tricking people into believing he endorses them. The actor was forced to share a message on Instagram warning his fans not to fall for advertisements that falsely use his name, image and voice to promote these drugs.
6) Sabrina Carpenter
Singer Sabrina Carpenter has been the target of scams in which her name and image have been used without permission to promote fake ticket sales schemes and advertise a controversial app designed to create sexually explicit images.
7) Sidney Sweeney
Sydney Sweeney, an acclaimed actress known for her featured roles in hit series such as “Euphoria” and “The White Lotus,” has been exploited in scams in which her name and likeness have been used without her permission to promote fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. . These scams often falsely claim that the actress endorses various cryptocurrency investments, tricking fans into thinking they can trust her recommendations.
8) Blake animated
Blake Lively, known for her roles in “Gossip Girl” and “A Simple Favor,” has been the target of scams in which her image was used without permission to promote fraudulent weight-loss gummy products.
9) Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp, the renowned actor known for his iconic roles in films such as “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Edward Scissorhands,” has been the victim of scams that misuse his image without permission. His image has been exploited in various fraudulent activities, including giveaway scams, cryptocurrency schemes, and deceptive fundraising efforts.
10) Addison Rae
Addison Rae is a popular singer and social media influencer, best known for her viral dance videos on TikTok and her growing music career. However, his image has been used without permission in numerous scams, including fake endorsements, fraudulent giveaways, and deceptive cryptocurrency promotions.
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Deepfake cybercrime is on the rise
Thanks to advances in generative AI, even people without technical experience can easily create fake personas of others. The lack of regulation in this area has paved the way for scams that can rob people of their hard-earned money. In addition to phishing scams and malware-laden links that exploit the popularity and reputation of celebrities to trick their fans, these highly realistic video and audio clips can convincingly mimic the image of a person. This makes it increasingly difficult to discern whether the content is real or fake.
A person browsing on his laptop. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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Five ways to avoid being fooled by deepfake scams
1) Check sources: Always check the credibility of the source before trusting any content. Look for official accounts or reputable news outlets to confirm the information, especially if it is from a celebrity or public figure.
2) Look for inconsistencies: Pay attention to details in videos or images. Deepfakes can have subtle inconsistencies, such as unnatural facial movements, awkward lighting, or mismatched audio. If something seems wrong, trust your instincts and investigate further.
3) Invest in powerful antivirus software: Protecting your devices with reliable antivirus software is crucial to defending yourself from deepfake scams and other cyber threats. These scams, including those that misuse celebrity images for fraudulent giveaways or unauthorized product promotions, often rely on phishing emails, malicious websites, and malware-laden links to trick users.
Protecting your devices with reliable antivirus software can be an effective way to protect yourself against deepfake scams and other cyber threats. Powerful antivirus programs often include features that detect malicious websites and suspicious downloads, alerting you to potential scams before you interact with them. Get my picks for the best antivirus protection winners of 2024 for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
4) Educate yourself: Stay informed about the latest deepfake technology and common scams associated with it. Understanding how deepfakes are created can help you recognize potential scams more easily.
5) Use Reverse Image Search: If you find suspicious images or videos, use reverse image search tools (such as Google Images) to see if the content has been altered or used in other misleading contexts.
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Kurt’s Key Takeaway
AI is a useful technology, but it is also extremely dangerous. Bad actors have successfully weaponized this technology to scam people, generating seemingly legitimate phishing emails and messages that are nearly impossible to detect. Plus, because AI makes everything so easy and fast, cybercriminals can attack people on an unprecedented scale. Companies developing these AI models must implement safeguards to prevent the technology from being exploited, and governments must enforce these safeguards.
Have you ever encountered a deepfake or scam that used someone’s image? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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