Celebrity / Deepfake Crypto Giveaway
A video or ad appears to show a celebrity promoting a crypto giveaway or platform — 'send X, get 2X back' — but the endorsement is fake and your crypto is gone.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
Scammers use real footage or AI deepfakes of well-known figures (like tech CEOs) to promote a 'giveaway' or investment where you send crypto to an address and supposedly receive double back, or invest in a 'guaranteed' platform. The endorsement is fabricated, the giveaway does not exist, and crypto sent is irreversible. Livestreams, fake news pages, and hijacked accounts make it look legitimate.
What it usually looks like
- A celebrity 'giveaway' promising to double crypto you send.
- A deepfake video or livestream endorsement.
- A QR code or wallet address to 'participate.'
- Fake news articles backing the offer.
Common warning signs
- Any 'send crypto, get more back' promise.
- Celebrity endorsements of giveaways or guaranteed returns.
- Time-limited 'events' urging fast deposits.
- Irreversible crypto to an unknown address.
Example wording scammers use
“LIVE: [Celebrity] is giving back! Send 0.1 BTC to this address and receive 0.2 BTC instantly.”
“Verified crypto event — double your deposit for the next 30 minutes only.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- Irreversible crypto sent to their wallet.
- To exploit a trusted face.
- Fast action before you verify.
What to do
- No legitimate giveaway asks you to send crypto first.
- Distrust celebrity crypto endorsements, especially in videos.
- Never send crypto to 'double' it.
- Report the post or ad.
What to do if you already responded
- Crypto sent is usually unrecoverable; preserve records.
- Report to ic3.gov and reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Warn others who follow the same accounts.