Fake Elon Musk YouTube streams promoting crypto schemes have been a recurring issue, with a recent incident involving a fake SpaceX livestream of the total solar eclipse. The livestream featured a deepfake of Elon Musk promoting a crypto investment scheme, urging viewers to scan a QR code and deposit cryptocurrencies for double returns. The video, titled “Live: Solar Eclipse Spectacular 2024 of SpaceX,” played an AI-generated voice of Musk discussing the investment opportunity and directing viewers to a scammer’s website impersonating SpaceX.
The fake stream, which had 95K viewers at one point, was hosted on a channel with 310K subscribers that had been rebranded to resemble SpaceX. The deepfake Elon Musk speech showcased in the video included a QR code prompting viewers to invest in a crypto scheme. Mashable reported that the QR code read “Eclipse of 2024 – Change your life,” encouraging viewers to scan and invest for promised double returns. Additionally, the live chat displayed messages from fake Elon Musk accounts promoting a giveaway to commemorate the solar eclipse, with links to a scam website hosted in Russia.
This isn’t the first time SpaceX and Elon Musk videos have been used for fraudulent activities on YouTube. In a previous incident, a manipulated audio track of Musk endorsing a trading platform circulated online. Musk distanced himself from such activities, responding to the recent fake livestream by stating, “Yikes. Def not me.” The rise of deepfake crypto scams on platforms like Twitter has become increasingly common during the crypto boom, with many individuals falling victim to fraudulent schemes promoted through fake endorsements from well-known personalities.
The perpetuation of fake Elon Musk YouTube streams promoting crypto schemes was highlighted by a recent incident involving a fake SpaceX livestream of the total solar eclipse. The deepfake video featured an AI-generated voice of Musk recommending a crypto investment opportunity and encouraging viewers to deposit cryptocurrencies for double returns. The video was titled “Live: Solar Eclipse Spectacular 2024 of SpaceX” and included a QR code directing viewers to a scammer’s website impersonating SpaceX.
The fake stream, which attracted a significant number of viewers, was hosted on a channel that had been rebranded to resemble SpaceX and had a substantial number of subscribers. The deepfake Elon Musk speech included messages prompting viewers to scan a QR code and invest in a crypto scheme, with promises of significant returns. The live chat associated with the stream also featured messages from fake Elon Musk accounts promoting a giveaway to commemorate the solar eclipse, along with links to a scam website hosted in Russia.
Instances of fraudulent activities utilizing SpaceX and Elon Musk videos on YouTube have been reported in the past, with Musk distancing himself from such schemes. The prevalence of deepfake crypto scams on social media platforms like Twitter has grown during the crypto boom, with scammers leveraging fake endorsements from well-known individuals to deceive unsuspecting victims. The recent incident involving the fake SpaceX livestream serves as a reminder of the importance of exercising caution and verifying information before engaging in any online investment opportunities promoted through dubious channels.
