Well-known and trusted figures AI media incident — Nov 2026
Cybercriminals utilized AI-generated deepfakes of trusted figures to endorse fraudulent investment schemes, causing £24.3 million in losses between January.
- Reported date
- Nov 5, 2026
- Target
- well-known and trusted figures
The exact incident date was not established. This entry is dated by its source report.
Between January and August 2026, cybercriminals leveraged AI-generated deepfakes of well-known and trusted figures to endorse fraudulent investment schemes, resulting in £24.3 million in losses. The City of London Police reported over 1,300 incidents during this period, with victims aged 60 and over accounting for nearly 80% of the cases.
What happened
The fraudulent activity relied on a combination of sophisticated tactics designed to make scams appear legitimate. Criminals utilized AI to create deepfake endorsements from trusted public figures, which were paired with professional-looking advertisements and fake high-tech trading platforms. By using these synthetic media assets, the perpetrators increased the perceived credibility of their investment schemes, making them more enticing to potential victims.
According to Commander Ollie Shaw of the City of London Police, the tactics used to commit investment fraud are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The use of AI and deepfakes is specifically intended to bypass human judgment, which experts now consider an unreliable safeguard against modern digital deception. To combat these threats, authorities are urging the public to conduct thorough research before investing, specifically recommending the use of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Firm Checker to verify if a company is authorized to provide investment services.