Identity theft scams are everywhere these days, and scammers love to impersonate government officials, large corporations, or even politicians. But often, they also pretend to be your favorite celebrities. You’ve probably seen deepfakes of celebrities promoting cryptocurrencies, NFTs, or sketchy products (seriously, Tom Hanks doesn’t promote fake medical products). Many famous faces have been involved in these scams, but if you’re wondering who the main targets were in 2024, I’ve got a list for you below, along with some tips to avoid getting tricked.

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Illustration of a hacker at work (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

List of celebrity hackers 2024

Cybersecurity company McAfee has put together a handy list of the top 10 celebrities who have been frequent targets of malicious scams and risky search results. Topping the list is actress Scarlett Johansson, known for her roles in Marvel’s “Avengers” franchise and films like “Lucy” and “Lost in Translation.” Right behind her is media personality Kylie Jenner, famous for her beauty products. There are plenty of other big names on the list, so let’s get to it.

1) Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson’s name and likeness have been used without her permission in various advertisements and endorsements. Earlier this year, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, released an AI model called GPT-4o, which featured very similar voice output to the actor’s. However, Ms. Johansson never authorized the use of her voice in the AI ​​model. After hiring legal counsel and sending official letters to OpenAI, the company removed the voice.

“Hot List of Celebrity Hackers” (McAfee) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

2) Kylie Jenner

Kylie Jenner is a popular reality TV star and influencer whose name and likeness have been used without permission for social media scams and fake Kylie Cosmetics products and websites.

3) Taylor Swift

Popular singer Taylor Swift has been a frequent target of scams involving the unauthorized use of her name and likeness. These include fake celebrity endorsements for products she never promoted, ticket scams where fans are tricked into purchasing non-existent concert tickets, and fraudulent product giveaways .

Beyond that, Swift’s image has been used in disinformation campaigns, including false political endorsements, although she has clearly claimed to only support specific causes and candidates.

4) Anya Taylor-Joy

Anya Taylor-Joy was the victim of scams in which her name and likeness, including fake social media accounts, were used without her consent for fraudulent promotions. Additionally, misinformation has been spread around his image, particularly regarding his roles in streaming series, creating confusion among fans. Scammers exploited her growing fame, particularly after her success in “The Queen’s Gambit,” to deceive audiences and capitalize on her popularity.

5) Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks has been the target of scams in which his name and likeness have been misused to promote “miracle cures” and “wonder drugs” without his consent. These scams often falsely associate the beloved actor with health products or treatments, thereby misleading people into believing that he endorses them. The actor was forced to share a post on Instagram warning fans not to fall for advertisements falsely using his name, image and voice to promote these drugs.

6) Sabrina Carpenter

Singer Sabrina Carpenter was the target of scams in which her name and likeness were used without permission to promote fake ticketing schemes and to promote a controversial app designed to create sexually explicit images.

7) Sydney Sweeney

Sydney Sweeney, an acclaimed actress known for her notable roles in hit series like “Euphoria” and “The White Lotus,” was exploited in scams where her name and likeness were used without her permission to promote fraudulent schemes cryptocurrency. These scams often falsely claim that the actress supports various crypto investments, thereby misleading fans into believing that they can trust her recommendations.

8) Blake Lively

Blake Lively, known for her roles on “Gossip Girl” and “A Simple Favor,” was the target of scams where her likeness was used without permission to promote fraudulent weight-loss gummy products.

9) Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp, the famous actor known for his iconic roles in films like “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Edward Scissorhands”, has been a victim of scams that abuse his image without permission. His image has been exploited in various fraudulent activities, including giveaway scams, cryptocurrency schemes and deceptive fundraising campaigns.

10) Addison Rae

Addison Rae is a popular singer and social media influencer, best known for her viral dance videos on TikTok and her rising music career. However, his image has been used without permission in numerous scams, including fake endorsements, fraudulent giveaways, and misleading cryptocurrency promotions.

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Deepfake cybercrime is on the rise

Thanks to advances in generative AI, even individuals without technical expertise can easily create fake identities. The lack of regulation in this area has paved the way for scams that can deprive people of their hard-earned money. Alongside phishing scams and malware-laden links that exploit celebrities’ popularity and reputation to fool their fans, these highly realistic video and audio clips can convincingly mimic a person’s likeness. This makes it increasingly difficult to determine whether content is real or fake.

A person surfing on their laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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5 ways to avoid being fooled by deepfake scams

1) Check the sources: Always check the credibility of the source before trusting any content. Look for official accounts or reputable media outlets to confirm the information, especially if it involves a celebrity or public figure.

2) Look for inconsistencies: Pay attention to details in videos or images. Deepfakes can feature subtle inconsistencies, like unnatural facial movements, awkward lighting, or inconsistent audio. If something seems unusual, trust your instincts and investigate further.

3) Invest in powerful antivirus software: Protecting your devices with reliable antivirus software is crucial to defending against deepfake scams and other cyber threats. These scams, including those that misuse celebrity images for fraudulent giveaways or unauthorized product promotions, often rely on phishing emails, malicious websites, and malware-laden links. to deceive users.

Protecting your devices with reliable antivirus software can be an effective way to guard against deepfake scams and other cyber threats. Powerful antivirus programs often include features that detect malicious websites and suspicious downloads, alerting you to potential scams before you jump into them. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

4) Find out: Stay informed about the latest deepfake technologies and common scams associated with them. Understanding how deepfakes are created can help you more easily recognize potential scams.

5) Use reverse image search: If you come across suspicious images or videos, use reverse image search tools (like Google Images) to see if the content has been altered or used in other misleading contexts.

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Kurt’s key point

AI is a useful technology, but it is also extremely dangerous. Bad actors have successfully used this technology as a weapon to scam people, generating legitimate-looking emails and phishing messages that are almost impossible to detect. Plus, because AI makes it all so quick and easy, cybercriminals can target people on an unprecedented scale. Companies developing these AI models must implement safeguards to prevent exploitation of the technology, and governments must enforce these safeguards.

Have you ever encountered a deepfake or scam using someone’s image? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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