(NewsNation) — Swifties, avid fans of pop sensation Taylor Swift, are falling victim to a sophisticated AI-generated scam that uses deepfake technology to dupe users into divulging sensitive information and parting with their hard-earned money.
The scheme involves an AI-generated advertisement promoting a fake giveaway purportedly between Swift and Le Creuset, a popular cookware brand. The scammers strategically exploit the celebrity’s image and popularity to lend credibility to their fraudulent scheme.
“Hey y’all, it’s Taylor Swift here,” the voice says in a robotic tone. “Due to a packaging error, we can’t sell 3,000 Le Creuset cookware sets, so I’m giving them away to my loyal fans for free.”
In a statement, the cookware company said it had nothing to do with the fake ad, NBC news reported.
“Le Creuset is not involved with Taylor Swift for any consumer giveaway,” Le Creuset said. “All approved Le Creuset giveaways or promotions come from the official Le Creuset social accounts. Consumers should always check Le Creuset’s official social accounts and website before clicking on any suspicious ads.”
NewsNation’s law and justice contributor, Jennifer Coffindaffer emphasized the convincing nature of the deepfake video, noting that even devoted fans found it challenging to distinguish between authentic content and the scam.
“If it’s something that they’re endorsing, go ahead and do just a little bit of homework,” Coffindaffer advised. “Click on that product and go on to the web to see if her picture comes up. If you don’t see that picture of her, she’s not endorsing it because that’s the biggest thing they would want to show in their advertisement.”
The difficulty in discerning deepfake content grows as the technology has become increasingly sophisticated, making it nearly impossible for the naked eye to differentiate between genuine and manipulated videos.
Coffindaffer acknowledged the challenges posed by scammers operating from foreign jurisdictions, making it challenging for law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, to take effective action.
“They will keep getting away with it if they’re truly in another country,” she explained. “It’s very difficult to bring anyone to justice.”
The former FBI special agent highlighted the importance of tracing the financial trail to identify the culprits behind such scams. While the FBI has legal liaisons in many countries, the complexities of international jurisdiction present significant obstacles in prosecuting offenders.