AI Deepfakes Used in Scams Targeting Sports Fans
Scammers are leveraging artificial intelligence to create convincing deepfake images and videos of celebrities and athletes, targeting sports fans with increasingly sophisticated schemes. The FBI reports a significant rise in internet crime losses, with these AI-driven scams contributing to victims…
Lafayette, IN, October 20, 2026 —
Scammers are using artificial intelligence to create convincing images and videos that impersonate celebrities and athletes, targeting sports fans through social media, according to the trend summary.
The schemes exploit the apparent connection to popular figures and use emotional manipulation to persuade people to part with money. The summary says victims have lost thousands of dollars in these AI-driven scams. It does not specify how many people were affected, the total amount lost to these schemes, or when the losses occurred.
The FBI reports a significant rise in internet crime losses, with AI-driven scams contributing to the losses, the summary says. It does not provide figures for the overall increase or isolate the amount attributed to deepfake impersonations.
Deepfake images and videos can make an impersonation appear convincing, but the summary does not describe particular examples, platforms beyond social media, or the methods scammers use to solicit money. It also does not identify specific celebrities, athletes, or victims.
The information provided does not include details about investigations, arrests, or steps taken by social media companies. It is therefore unclear whether any particular case has led to enforcement action or what happened to the money victims lost.
The reported trend highlights the use of AI-generated media in scams aimed at sports fans. The scale of losses specifically linked to celebrity and athlete deepfakes, as well as the number of reported cases, was not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Brendan Keefe on www.wlfi.com, see more information here.
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