Grieving son scammed out of inheritance by AI fraudsters using deepfake Elon Musk video

John Cairns, 61, had not agelong mislaid his dada erstwhile helium saw a video connected Facebook advising radical to put £250 successful a caller AI trading platform

A grieving lad was scammed retired of his inheritance by fraudsters who utilized a deepfake video of billionaire Elon Musk.

John Cairns, 61, had not agelong mislaid his dada erstwhile helium saw a video connected Facebook advising radical to put £250 successful a caller AI trading platform.

Believing the video was of Tesla tycoon Musk helium invested £3,250 – but it was an elaborate concern scam and helium mislaid the lot.

A rocketing fig of faked videos seemingly featuring large planetary figures specified arsenic Richard Branson and Keir Starmer promoting concern schemes are appearing online.

An embarrassed Mr Cairns, a elder declaration manager for a cleaning company, warned others to beryllium connected their guard.

He said: “I was grieving for my dad, and they took vantage of that. I wasn’t reasoning straight. I was bedewed down the ears doing this, and I conscionable wanted to dip my digit successful the h2o with these investments and spot however it would go. It ended up being a large dip.”

The scam unfolded successful June and July 2023, erstwhile Mr Cairns decided to put portion of the wealth from the merchantability of his stock of his precocious father’s house.

After clicking connected the advert and providing his details, helium was contacted by an “account manager”, who explained however the investments would work. He was besides advised to download MetaTrader 5 – a morganatic trading level – onto his phone, on with an app which gives 3rd parties distant access.

Mr Cairns enactment successful £250 and was instantly told helium had made $100 nett – astir £82.

He threw successful different £1,490 and was convinced it was genuine erstwhile his petition to retreat $100 was successful.

He deposited a further £1,510 but erstwhile Mr Cairns, from Huddersfield, West Yorks, asked to retreat his currency helium was “fobbed off”.

His girl aboriginal discovered the scam and helium learned helium had been deceived.

National Fraud Helpline solicitors are trying to retrieve his money, saying banks person a work to support customers.

The instrumentality firm’s Fiona Bresnen said: “It is becoming progressively hard for anyone to archer what investments are legitimate.”

For fraud prevention proposal and assistance visit: www.nationalfraudhelpline.co.uk