scam brokersOne of the most widespread celebrity-impersonation scams of 2026 uses deepfake videos of Elon Musk to promote a fake investment platform often branded ‘Quantum AI’. The clips are run as paid ads on Facebook, YouTube and X, and clicking through leads to a polished website designed to mimic a real exchange or even a trusted news outlet.
Why the Musk deepfakes work
Elon Musk is reportedly the most impersonated figure in celebrity investment-scam deepfakes. Attaching a famous, tech-credible face to a ‘revolutionary AI trading’ pitch lowers victims’ guard. Once on the site, users are asked to deposit and often to grant remote access to their device — at which point losses can escalate quickly. One reported victim lost £250,000 to an AI deepfake investment scam.
Spotting celebrity-endorsement fraud
- Any ad claiming a celebrity endorses a specific trading platform — treat it as fake
- Platforms promoted only through social ads, never official channels
- ‘AI’ or ‘quantum’ branding promising effortless, guaranteed returns
- Requests to install software or allow remote access to your computer
These schemes overlap heavily with AI trading bot scams. No legitimate broker or exchange recruits clients through deepfaked celebrity videos.
This article summarises publicly reported regulatory actions and news for educational and consumer-awareness purposes. Details are based on statements from regulators and press reports at the time of writing; always verify the current status of any firm directly with the relevant regulator before making decisions.
