10 months ago
SRK, Alia, Musk Top 2025 Deepfake Abuse List Amid Rising Scams
Imagine some tricky people are using computers to make fake videos of famous actors and business leaders.
These fake videos look and sound like the real famous people, but they are not!
The fake videos are used to trick people into believing in fake offers or giveaways.
Many people in India have seen these fake videos and unfortunately lost money because they believed them.
A company called McAfee found that most people in India have seen these fake ads, and some have lost a lot of money.
The report also shows that younger people are more likely to fall for these tricks than older people.
Because of this problem, some famous actors are even asking courts for help to stop their fake images from being used.
Approximately 90% of Indians have encountered fake or AI-generated celebrity endorsements.
Victims of these scams in India have lost an average of Rs 34,500.
Shah Rukh Khan, Alia Bhatt, and Elon Musk were the most exploited figures in deepfake scams in 2025.
Cybercriminals use deepfakes to promote fraudulent endorsements, giveaways, and direct users to malicious websites.
Younger demographics (18-44) are more susceptible to clicking on fake celebrity ads compared to older individuals.
- Who
- Cybercriminals, McAfee, celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Alia Bhatt, and Elon Musk, and the Indian population
- What
- A rise in AI-generated deepfakes of celebrities used for fake endorsements and scams, leading to financial losses, with McAfee reporting on the trend and celebrities seeking legal protection.
- Where
- India
- When
- Reported for 2025, with data referencing 2024 smartphone usage
- Why
- To exploit public trust in celebrities and influencers for financial gain through fake endorsements, giveaways, and malicious links.
Younger Users
Older Users
Vulnerability to Fake Ads
Younger Users
62% of those aged 35-44 and 60% of those aged 25-34 admitted clicking on fake celebrity ads.
Older Users
Only 46% of those aged 45-54 and 17% of those over 65 admitted falling for such scams, indicating higher skepticism with age.
Key facts
- Percentage of Indians exposed to fake celebrity endorsements
- 90%
- Average financial loss per victim in India
- Rs 34,500
- Most exploited celebrity in India (2025)
- Shah Rukh Khan
- Second most exploited celebrity in India (2025)
- Alia Bhatt
- Most exploited global figure in India (2025)
- Elon Musk
- Primary platform for deepfake scams
- WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram
Quotes
Pratim Mukherjee
senior director of engineering, McAfee
“Deepfakes have changed the game for cybercriminals. They're no longer hacking systems, they're hacking human trust.”
rediff.com
“India's vibrant celebrity culture and massive online engagement make the threat even more dangerous.”
rediff.com




