The rapid spread of artificial intelligence-generated content is fuelling a sharp rise in celebrity impersonation scams, exposing fans to escalating financial and emotional harm. As deepfake videos and cloned voices become more realistic and widely available, fraudsters are increasingly exploiting the trust people place in familiar public figures.
New data suggests the scale of the problem is accelerating faster than many consumers and platforms can adapt. With manipulated content now circulating across social media feeds, private messages, and online adverts, experts warn that recognising what is real is becoming harder just as the stakes for victims grow higher.
