"AI-powered scams are hijacking the identities of major artists to steal money from fans, according to a new report (via ). The social media security company Spikerz says platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X-vital for announcements and fan engagement-are increasingly "high-risk entry points for fraud and brand damage," with AI making impersonations harder to spot and scams more effective."
"But consultant Scott Cohen, who advised on the report, says that today's social media landscape makes these current crop of scams a little bit different. "Social platforms have become the most important connection point between artists and their audiences, and therefore, the most vulnerable," Cohen explained. "If we want artists to innovate and experiment, we have to give them digital environments where they're not constantly under attack.""
"In August, a cryptocurrency scam targeted fans of Pink Floyd, Tyla, Michael Jackson, Future, and Adele. All told, the scammers collected $49,000 from various individuals. One hacker used voice recordings of actor Johnny Depp to fleece a single fan out of $350,000. Fans of Swift and Carpenter were taken advantage of with targeted campaigns. The former fanbase were convinced with "fake tickets, merch, and VIP experiences," while the latter group were offered "fake meet-and-greet offers, pre-sale links, and counterfeit merch drops.""
AI-enabled scams are increasingly impersonating major artists on social platforms to defraud fans. Social platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and X serve as primary connection points and vulnerable entryways for fraud. Scammers use AI-generated likenesses, voice recordings, and targeted campaigns to sell fake tickets, counterfeit merchandise, VIP experiences, and meet-and-greets. High-value schemes have yielded significant losses, including a $49,000 cryptocurrency scam affecting multiple fanbases and a $350,000 fraud using cloned voice recordings. The most impersonated artists include top global pop acts, making fan communities frequent targets for sophisticated, AI-amplified fraud.
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