Bank of England warns of AI deepfake scam videos

The Bank of England has issued a public warning about AI-generated scams after fabricated videos and images depicting a violent confrontation between its governor, Andrew Bailey, and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage spread widely on social media. The deepfake content, which appeared on the platform X in recent days, shows the two men fighting on a set made to resemble the BBC's "Question Time" program, with some versions depicting Farage holding a gun.

Governor Andrew Bailey condemned the posts, stating they are part of a rise in fraudulent advertisements impersonating central banks. He urged the public to remain vigilant and report such content. These scams are designed to criminally exploit the public, especially the vulnerable, when they are online, Bailey said in a statement issued on Tuesday. He described the phenomenon as a truly online scourge and confirmed the Bank had reported the adverts to X and to Reform UK.

The fabricated images and videos, which often feature a large play button to mimic a video, link to articles promoting fraudulent investment schemes. One promoted scheme falsely claimed an investment could turn 250 pounds into 1 million pounds within 11 weeks....