Apple’s much-anticipated 'Glowtime' event, which will feature the launch of the iPhone 16 and several other new devices, is set to begin tonight at 10:30 pm IST. However, if you look up 'Apple Event Live' on YouTube, you will come across a fake live stream, where you will see a deepfake video of Tim Cook asking users to scan a QR code visible on screen for a free crypto giveaway during the launch event tonight.
Whatever you do, steer clear of scanning the QR code. It might lead to bad actors hacking your phone and eventually your personal and financial data. If not anything else, the QR code could be a gateway to a fraudulent scheme, where you will be asked to pay money to win cryptocurrencies. This is clearly a swindle, and if you don't wish to part ways with your money, best to stay away.
The video also shows a fraudulent URL: apple-gift2024.com. Needless to say, there is no official Apple website like this. Best to stay away here as well.
What Does The Deepfake Video Show?
As you can see, the video interface (title, description, etc) is made to look just like Apple's official YouTube channel and uploads. It should be noted that Apple's official YouTube channel carries 'Apple' as a profile name and nothing else. While Apple's official channel has over 19 million subscribers, this fake Apple channel has nearly 2 million.
This is clearly an older video of Cook, sitting at Apple's Cupertino headquarters. In the video, Cook in a clearly fake, drone-y voice is asking viewers to register by scanning the QR code on the screen (which we have blurred) so that they can register for a free crypto giveaway.
At the time of writing, the video has over 60,000 live viewers.
Problem Lies With YouTube
What is more shocking is that YouTube's search algorithm is flagging this fake scam video at the top of its search. This is problematic because not every user would be able to spot a fake or know when they are seeing one.
So, the onus lies on YouTube and parent Alphabet to stop flagging fake videos as the most popular search. The video streaming giant also needs to figure out how bad actors managed to crack its algorithm so easily.
Not The First Time
This trend of leveraging major events to lure unsuspecting victims into crypto scams is becoming increasingly common. The modus operandi involves using images or videos of well-known tech personalities, often manipulated to create the illusion that these figures are endorsing a new cryptocurrency venture.
These scams typically target individuals aware of the ongoing event but not directly engaged with the official streams. Even during the iPhone 14 launch event, scammers used an old CNN interview with Cook, altered the content, and made it seem like part of the current Apple event to drive traffic to fraudulent crypto websites promising high returns. The fraudulent channels often have unrelated URLs, as attackers frequently hijack existing YouTube channels to exploit their subscriber base.