A Rock Band Went Viral. Then AI Scammers Moved In - Time Magazine

The Nashville-based rock band Sons of Legion has faced a surge in sophisticated AI-driven impersonation scams targeting their rapidly growing fanbase. As the band’s popularity exploded from 12,000 to over 2 million followers, scammers began using AI tools to create realistic deepfake audio, video, and photos of band members Adam McInnis and Daddy Jack. These impersonators lure fans into private messaging platforms to initiate romantic relationships, eventually extorting them for thousands of dollars under the guise of fake tour expenses, hospital bills, or merchandise sales.

What happened

Scammers create hundreds of fake band pages and individual accounts on social media, with management reporting 50 to 60 new accounts appearing daily. Once fans are engaged, scammers move the conversation to encrypted messaging apps like Telegram or Signal. There, they deploy AI-generated content—including realistic videos of band members—to convince victims they are in a genuine relationship. This deception has led to life-altering financial losses, including one instance of a fan allegedly paying $50,000 to an impersonator. Beyond financial theft, the scammers engage in "sextortion" after soliciting illicit photos from victims.

The band has partnered with the deepfake detection startup Loti to combat the issue, successfully triggering the removal of over 350 impersonation pages. However, the sheer volume of new accounts makes this an ongoing battle. The band's independent status and emotional connection with their fans make them a prime target for these campaigns. In addition to romance scams, the band faces "AI slop" on streaming platforms like Spotify, where AI-generated artists mimicking their sound are being recommended to listeners, further complicating the band's ability to reach their audience. The band currently relies on legal protections such as Tennessee’s ELVIS Act and constant monitoring to mitigate the damage caused by these bad actors.