Find out how an AI-generated video of Elon Musk was used in an Elon Musk crypto scam on YouTube. Discover the tactics used by SpaceX scammers here.
A recent elaborate crypto scam involving an AI-generated video of Elon Musk has duped thousands of viewers on YouTube.
The video, which purportedly featured Musk asking people to scan a QR code to send bitcoin and receive double the amount back, attracted more than 100,000 live viewers simultaneously.
Anyone just see the freakin @elonmusk / crypto scam on the @SpaceX launch YouTube stream? In a deep fake video that cut into the stream, Elon directs everyone to scan a QR code to send crypto and it will be returned to your wallet double what you put in. Be careful out there!! pic.twitter.com/EpXyU0mv7F
— N1COLE (@nmarinake) June 6, 2024
Ai Elon Musk? Here’s How the SpaceX Crypto Scam Unfolded
A YouTube channel called SpaceX, with 2.9 million subscribers, pulled off a massive scam. Its large following and convincing content fooled many into thinking it was legit.
In reality, it was a repurposed channel once linked to the band Banda El Recodo De Cruz.
Crypto scam videos are old news on YouTube, but this one was different – it had a massive live viewership and used AI with chilling precision.
Just hours after Musk’s live talk for the Starship test flight, scammers pounced. The video seemed legit until an AI voice pitched the Bitcoin doubling scheme. This incident underscores YouTube’s need for tighter control over channel names; even with Google’s AI bots, channels like SpaceX1 or SpaceXforElon keep slipping through
Even seasoned observers were briefly fooled by the convincing nature of the video.
DISCOVER: How to Buy Bitcoin in June 2024
The Bottom Line: Protecting Yourself from Crypto Scams
To protect yourself from falling victim to such scams, always verify the authenticity of any crypto giveaway or promotional event associated with prominent figures like Elon Musk.
While 99Bitcoins was in Austin, Texas, for Consensus, we literally saw trucks broadcasting deepfake crypto scam videos on LED TVs of fake conversations between Musk and Joe Rogan. It’s a scary world out there.
Genuine announcements from Musk or his companies will typically be made through official platforms or verified social media handles.
Exercise caution and conduct thorough research before engaging in any online cryptocurrency deals.
And Dear YouTube, please put user safety before fake bot numbers. It’s time for tougher checks and balances.
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Disclaimer: Crypto is a high-risk asset class. This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. You could lose all of your capital.
