Indian celebrity names most frequently exploited for online scams include Orhan Awatramani, popularly known as Orry, topping the list. Following Orry are renowned singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh, leading actress Alia Bhatt, and other high-profile personalities like Ranveer Singh, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Aamir Khan, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, as per a recent survey.
The rise of generative AI and deepfakes has complicated the cybersecurity landscape, allowing scammers to create unauthorised clips that manipulate the images and voices of celebrities. This has led to a growth in malicious activities, where high-profile personalities are misrepresented in fraudulent promotions or false endorsements.
Diljit Dosanjh's upcoming concert tour, "Dil-Luminati," has been particularly vulnerable, drawing increased search interest and resulting in fraudulent ticketing websites, discount schemes, and phishing scams. Other stars, including Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, and Aamir Khan, have also found themselves at the mercy of deceptive AI-generated content, with Alia being subjected to multiple deepfake incidents.
A recent survey conducted by McAfee revealed alarming statistics regarding public concern over deepfake technology. About 80 per cent of Indians reported being more concerned about deepfakes than a year ago, and 64 per cent believe that AI has made it more challenging to identify online scams.
“It's easy for individuals to fall into the trap of clicking on malicious links, often misled by clickbait content promising free tickets or downloads—especially if it features a celebrity’s likeness. Imagine a world where your favourite celebrity stars in an advertisement they've never filmed, or a politician delivers a speech they've never given. This is the reality we face today,” said Vonny Gamot, McAfee’s Head of EMEA.
Further, 75 per cent of respondents stated they had seen deepfake content, while 38 per cent percent admitted to encountering deepfake scams, with eighteen percent confirming they had fallen victim to these deceptive practices. Among those affected, 57 per cent mistook a celebrity video, image, or recording for authentic, leading to significant financial losses for many.
Of those who experienced voice cloning or other deepfake scams, 64 per cent lost money, with 43 per cent losing over Rs 40,000 and 10 per cent losing more than Rs 8,00,000.
“AI-generated deepfakes use existing content to manipulate faces, voices, and even actions. While some deepfakes are harmless fun, others can spread misinformation, influence elections, damage reputations, or scam consumers. If something seems too good to be true, it likely is. To protect oneself and loved one's online privacy and identity, it's important to remain vigilant,” Gamot added.
