Post by : Raman

Brazilian authorities have launched a major operation against online scams that used artificial intelligence to create celebrity deepfakes. The fraud involved Instagram ads showing manipulated images and videos of supermodel Gisele Bündchen and other celebrities, which tricked people into paying money. Police believe the scheme earned the scammers millions of dollars.

This week, four suspects connected to the scam were arrested, and assets were frozen across five states. Investigators found over 20 million reais (approximately $3.9 million) in suspicious transactions, identified by the federal anti-money laundering agency COAF. The operation is one of Brazil’s first attempts to fight the growing use of AI to manipulate celebrity images for online fraud.

The investigation began in August 2024 in Rio Grande do Sul after a victim reported being misled by an Instagram ad showing a deepfake video of Bündchen promoting a skincare product. Another fake ad used her image to offer suitcases, asking buyers to pay shipping fees for items that never arrived. Officials revealed that the scammers also used deepfakes of other celebrities and fake betting platforms.

Brazil’s Supreme Court has ruled that social media platforms can be held responsible if they fail to remove criminal ads quickly, even without a court order. Meta, the owner of Instagram, stated that its policies prohibit ads that deceptively use public figures to scam people and that it removes such content when detected. The company also invests in trained review teams and provides tools for users to report scams.

Cybercrime officials explained that most victims lost small amounts, usually under 100 reais ($19), and often did not report the crimes. This allowed the scammers to operate on a large scale without fear. Authorities are now pursuing charges of money laundering and online fraud, highlighting the risks of AI-powered scams targeting social media users.

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