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Fake SpaceX Solar Eclipse Streams Showcase Deepfake Elon Musk Requesting Cryptocurrency Contributions
Impersonations of Elon Musk on YouTube that allegedly endorse cryptocurrency schemes are not a recent phenomenon. On Monday, during the total solar eclipse that captivated millions across the US, a fraudulent SpaceX YouTube channel reportedly streamed a live broadcast.
The live event showcased an AI-generated speech by business magnate and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, promoting a cryptocurrency investment scheme.
“The stream features a deepfake of Elon Musk urging viewers to scan a QR code displayed on the screen and deposit cryptocurrencies to have them doubled,” noted the research group and iOS developer Mysk, who was the first to highlight the issue.
Woow! A verified @YouTube account is impersonating @SpaceX’s account and airing a livestream about the solar eclipse. The stream shows a deepfake of Elon Musk asking users to scan a QR code on the screen and deposit cryptocurrencies to have them doubled. 95K users are watching… pic.twitter.com/A0B5XiAfUg
— Mysk
(@mysk_co) April 8, 2024
“95K users are watching it. The domain name seems to be registered in Russia.”
The channel, which has 310K subscribers, has been rebranded to closely resemble SpaceX. Mysk further pointed out that the video remains live and appears among the top results when searching for “solar eclipse livestream.”
Deepfake Elon Musk Speech Promotes Crypto Scam
Entitled “Live: Solar Eclipse Spectacular 2024 of SpaceX,” the stream featured a pre-recorded video of Musk addressing an audience. However, the video utilized an AI-generated voice of Elon Musk discussing a cryptocurrency investment opportunity and guaranteeing double returns.
As reported by Mashable, the fraudulent video included a QR code that stated – “Eclipse of 2024 – Change your life,” urging viewers to scan and invest. Scanning the QR code directs users to a seemingly legitimate scam website impersonating SpaceX for their cryptocurrency scheme.
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Source: Mashable
Some users also reported live chats from the fake Elon Musk account mentioning a significant giveaway to celebrate the total solar eclipse.
WOW what an OPPORTUNITY #bitcoin pic.twitter.com/Wl4bWQofCN
— Jason Paladino (@jason_paladino) April 8, 2024
The live chat also contained a link to a scam website – eclipse-spaceX.com – hosted in Russia. A message from the impersonated Elon Musk claimed that 630 Bitcoin (BTC) and 5,200 Ethereum (ETH) “have already been sent to live stream viewers.”
This incident is not the first occurrence of SpaceX and Elon Musk videos causing issues on YouTube. In October, a brief video circulated featuring Musk being interviewed, where a clearly manipulated audio track encouraged viewers to invest in the BitVex trading platform.
In response to the cryptocurrency scam, Musk briefly addressed the Tweet, emphasizing that he is not associated with any such fraudulent promotions.
“Yikes. Def not me,” the tech entrepreneur remarked at that time.
El País reported that the impersonation of media outlets and the fabrication of news became prevalent during the cryptocurrency boom. Twitter, in particular, is considered “the perfect breeding ground” for deepfake cryptocurrency scams to “proliferate again.”
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