Incidents gathered from public reporting around the world. Each one links to the articles it came from. None of it is a finding that anyone broke the law.
Reports people file about their own experience are not shown here and never will be without their agreement. Tell us what happened to you.
44 incidents closest to “Sigma Synthetic Fraud” · matched on meaning · public reporting
People transferred money as processing fees for old coin deals after seeing a deepfake video of MP Govindbhai Dholakia.
1 source article · read the reporting →
The AI-generated deepfake video falsely endorsed an investment opportunity, leading a victim to invest and lose £250,000.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Meta makes $$$ from deepfake AI scams… then fails to assist victims Independent Australia
1 source article · read the reporting →
Scammers used generative AI to create a fake clone of the brokerage firm Exante, including a replicated trading platform and AI-generated passports. They opened a real JPMorgan Chase bank account using a US address and tricked at least one US victim into transferring funds. Exante, which does not serve US clients, discovered the scam when the victim was registered on its real platform and reported the incident to the FBI, SEC, CFTC, and other authorities. The scammers remain unidentified, and the victim's funds have not been recovered.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
A fraud analyst, Leon, was targeted by scammers who used AI to create convincing fake websites for non-existent investment firms. The scammers posed as employees of Assent Advisory and directed him to elaborate sites for APPC Capital Singapore and Thackeray Mines and Minerals Inc., complete with AI-generated images and fake details. Leon recognised the scam, but the sophistication of the AI-generated content made him second-guess his own judgment. The incident highlights how AI is enabling more convincing investment scams.
1 source article · read the reporting →
A wave of Israeli investors lost hundreds of thousands of shekels after falling victim to an AI-powered stock scam that used deepfake videos and fake ads on Meta platforms. The fraudsters impersonated public figures and financial institutions to promote a real NASDAQ stock, which was pumped and then crashed. The Israeli Internet Association criticised Meta for inadequate moderation, and authorities are investigating the fraud.
1 source article · read the reporting →
In June 2025, a series of AI-generated deepfake videos circulated on Facebook in Lithuania, impersonating journalists, politicians, and doctors to promote fraudulent health products. The videos, part of a wider European scam campaign, tricked viewers into losing money. The National Crisis Management Centre called it a 'new level of fraud', and the videos were later removed. Facebook promised to strengthen content review but has not yet delivered results.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
A title company owner in Hallandale Beach, Florida, detected an attempted property fraud using a deepfake video. The scammer posed as the owner of a vacant lot, providing a fake driver's licence and a looped video during a video call. The title company owner noticed the video was not interactive and halted the sale. The true owner's property tax bills had been sent to the Bahamas, and the scammer used a photo of a missing woman from California.
4 source articles · read the reporting →
AI-generated fake profiles on Meta are being used to lure Swedish small savers into 'pump and dump' investment schemes. The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority reports that more than 5,000 savers have lost a total of half a billion kronor. Journalist Gabriel Mellqvist, whose identity was used without consent, criticises Meta for not taking responsibility.
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Scammers used AI-generated deepfake videos to impersonate Bank of Montreal's chief investment strategist Brian Belski and economist David Rosenberg, luring investors into WhatsApp groups with fake stock tips. Victims reported collective losses exceeding $1-million. The real experts struggled to get the content removed from Meta platforms, with some deepfakes reaching nearly a million users. Meta has since enrolled one victim in a facial recognition program to detect future impersonations.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
In June 2024, a scam group posing as FTX debt claimants allegedly used AI-generated identities and manipulated facial appearances to defraud two companies of more than $5.6 million. The perpetrators accessed FTX customer data through public bankruptcy filings or a 2023 data breach at Kroll. Blockchain analysis traced the stolen funds through Binance, CoinEx, and Gate.io. The incident remains unresolved.
6 source articles · read the reporting →
A video circulating on social media used AI to manipulate footage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, falsely depicting him endorsing a government-backed investment scheme. The scam promised returns of up to Rs. 750,000 per month on a Rs. 75,000 investment. The Presidential Media Division and cybersecurity experts confirmed the video was AI-generated and part of a fraud, warning the public not to engage with the links.
1 source article · read the reporting →
The SEC charged Delphia (USA) Inc. and Global Predictions Inc. for making false and misleading statements about their use of artificial intelligence. Delphia claimed from 2019 to 2023 that it used AI and machine learning to predict investments, while Global Predictions falsely claimed in 2023 to be the 'first regulated AI financial advisor'. Both firms settled the charges without admitting or denying the findings, agreeing to pay a total of $400,000 in civil penalties and to cease and desist from further violations.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Cybersecurity firm ESET reported that an investment scam campaign named Nomani used AI-generated video testimonials of famous people in social media adverts to lure victims worldwide to phishing websites. The scammers harvested personal information, then telephoned victims and manipulated them into investing in non-existent products, with some taking out loans or installing remote access apps. When victims sought payouts, they were told to pay extra fees and provide ID and credit-card details, after which the fraudsters disappeared with their money and data. South Korean authorities separately said they dismantled a related fake trading platform network that defrauded victims of nearly $6.3 million.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) deployed the Michigan Integrated Data Automated System (MiDAS) to automate fraud detection. The system algorithmically adjudicated over 40,000 fraud cases between October 2013 and September 2015, with 85 percent of those resulting in incorrect fraud determinations. The false accusations led to severe financial penalties, ruined credit, and homelessness for many victims. A class-action lawsuit was filed, and while the state has apologised and returned fines, it has fought against compensation claims, though legislators have promised to seek at least $30 million for those affected.
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Scammers are using AI-manipulated videos of Namibia's former First Lady Monica Geingos to convince members of the public to invest in fraudulent Forex schemes. Geingos warned that she is not soliciting money or loans on social media and urged people to report fake accounts. The incident highlights the rising threat of deepfake fraud, with South Africa experiencing a 1200% increase in such cases. No specific loss has been reported, but the potential for financial harm is significant.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
The Bank of Italy has reported the circulation of deepfake videos and articles falsely depicting Governor Fabio Panetta endorsing investment platforms, likely as part of a scam. The central bank has filed a complaint with the judicial authority and warned the public not to trust or share such content. The deepfakes, created using artificial intelligence, are entirely fabricated and do not correspond to reality.
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Scammers used AI-generated deepfake videos and fake interviews impersonating diabetes expert Professor Jonathan Shaw and other health professionals to promote a dietary supplement called Glyco Balance. The fraudulent ads falsely claimed the supplement, sold by Vellec Group, was developed at the Baker Institute and that commonly prescribed diabetes medication is dangerous. One victim, Michael, purchased the supplement for $340 before realising it was a scam. The Therapeutic Goods Administration is assessing the situation, and Meta removed the fake video after the Baker Institute reported it.
1 source article · read the reporting →
In January 2023, AI-generated videos of fictitious Americans expressing support for Burkina Faso's military junta circulated on WhatsApp and social media. The videos were created using Synthesia's AI video generator. Synthesia banned the user responsible and condemned the misuse, highlighting challenges in content moderation for AI-generated media.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Fraudsters used forged emails and deepfake audio to impersonate a company director, convincing a branch manager at a UAE company to transfer $35 million as part of a fake acquisition. The manager believed he was following instructions from the director and a US-based lawyer. The incident, which occurred in January 2020, led to a US federal court request for assistance in tracing the stolen funds. The case highlights the growing threat of deepfake technology in corporate fraud.
6 source articles · read the reporting →
The New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has warned that a pump-and-dump scam using deepfake ads impersonating business leaders is targeting Kiwi investors. Victims are lured into WhatsApp groups via social media ads and encouraged to buy low-value shares, artificially inflating prices before scammers sell, leaving investors with losses. The FMA has received multiple complaints and is sharing information with overseas regulators, while urging the public to be cautious of unsolicited investment advice.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Starmangalsutra Private Limited, a subsidiary of Sky Gold and Diamonds, lost approximately Rs 10.70 crore after fraudsters used deepfake techniques to impersonate a director and trick an employee into transferring funds to unknown accounts. The incident was discovered on July 15, 2026, and the company reported it to cybercrime authorities and banks. Sky Gold stated there is no indication of broader IT system breaches.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Scammers used a website and AI-generated faces to create a fake law firm called Arthur Davidson and sent a DMCA copyright infringement notice to a blogger. The blogger investigated and discovered the lawyers' photos were created by a generative adversarial network and the firm's website contained many red flags. The website was shut down shortly after the blogger contacted a company on whose behalf the notice was allegedly sent.
1 source article · read the reporting →
A deepfake video on TikTok used artificial intelligence to depict former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani endorsing a money scam linked to a 'Datuk'. The video, which circulated from 20 June 2025, was entirely fabricated. Acryl Sani lodged a police report, and Selangor police are investigating under the Penal Code and Communications and Multimedia Act, warning of firm action against those spreading the fake content.
1 source article · read the reporting →
