Deepfakes of Musk and Durov used to defraud Kazakhstanis

Over the past month and a half, 119 cases of fraud disguised as trading activities and involving the use of deepfakes have been registered in Kazakhstan. Fraudsters create fake videos featuring well-known public figures and promise high returns on investments, El.kz reports citing the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

To attract potential victims, fraudsters place advertisements on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Such materials feature AI-generated videos depicting Elon Musk, Pavel Durov and television presenters.

The schemes flagged by law enforcement authorities include fake Quantum AI platforms featuring the likeness of Elon Musk and TON-related platforms featuring Pavel Durov. Advertisements allegedly promoting retail investment opportunities in KazMunayGas or Gazprom have also been identified, featuring deepfakes of television presenters.

One such case occurred in Taldykorgan. In September, a local resident came across an advertisement on Instagram promising exceptionally high returns from trading.

The woman followed a link, provided her contact details and was subsequently contacted by individuals who presented themselves as investment specialists. Acting on their instructions, she transferred more than KZT 7 million to third-party accounts.

The victim could see the funds she had deposited and purportedly accrued dividends on the fraudulent platform. However, she was unable to withdraw the funds and subsequently contacted the police. A pre-trial investigation is currently underway.

The Prosecutor General’s Office warns that promises of guaranteed high returns remain one of the characteristic indicators of fraudulent investment schemes. Before transferring funds, law enforcement authorities recommend verifying the company, the platform and the investment project itself.

The authorities have also previously warned that deepfakes are increasingly being used to create a false sense of trust in fraudulent advertisements. In such videos, fraudsters may fabricate the appearance and voice of well-known individuals, representatives of government authorities and other public figures.