Scammers Exploit Apple iPhone 16 Launch with Deepfake Tim Cook Videos

On September 9, the launch of Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone 16 took a dark turn as scammers took advantage of the event’s excitement. Utilizing deepfake technology, fraudsters created convincing AI-generated videos of Apple CEO Tim Cook to promote fake cryptocurrency investment schemes.

The scammers launched multiple live streams that closely mimicked Apple’s official channels, attracting over 355,000 viewers to one particular stream. These fraudulent broadcasts featured doctored clips of Tim Cook, edited to make it appear as though he was endorsing a cryptocurrency investment opportunity that promised to double users’ money.

The scam operation included sophisticated tactics such as creating fake Apple YouTube channels and presenting a QR code for viewers to scan and send cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, and Dogecoin. The scammers used fabricated transaction screens to falsely show that other participants had received double their investments.

While the live streams have since been removed from YouTube, many users have taken to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to alert others about the scam. The incident has raised concerns about the increasing misuse of AI technology for fraudulent purposes and underscores the need for vigilance in digital spaces.

Apple has yet to comment on the incident, but it highlights the growing intersection of technology and deception, and the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect consumers from such scams.