Scam alert! Elon Musk’s viral $20M crypto giveaway video is not what it seems

Updated on 16-Dec-2024
HIGHLIGHTS

A new deepfake video of Elon Musk is making rounds on social media, leaving many confused and concerned.

The video falsely claims Musk is hosting a $20 million crypto giveaway.

The video shows Musk saying, "Here's a surprise for everyone. I'll be doing a $20 million crypto giveaway at Elon4u.com for one week starting on December 13."

In today’s digital age, spotting fake content online has become a challenge, even for the most tech-savvy individuals. A new deepfake video of Elon Musk is making rounds on social media, leaving many confused and concerned. The video falsely claims Musk is hosting a $20 million crypto giveaway, further highlighting how scammers are using advanced technology to deceive people.

The viral video shows Musk saying, “Here’s a surprise for everyone. I’ll be doing a $20 million crypto giveaway at Elon4u.com for one week starting on December 13.” He even reassures viewers by adding, “If I am serious? Yes, go to Elon4u.com. It’s just a few quick steps that shouldn’t take longer than three minutes.”

However, the video is entirely fake. Sharing the clip on X (formerly Twitter), DogeDesigner warned followers about the scam, writing, “BREAKING: A deepfake of Elon Musk promoting a $20 million crypto giveaway is going viral.” The post also clarified, “Elon Musk and his companies are NOT doing any crypto giveaways. Don’t fall for scams! Stay safe.”

This incident is a reminder to always verify information before taking any action online, especially when it involves money. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using deepfake technology to impersonate public figures like Musk.

If you come across similar claims, it’s best to stay cautious, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and report such scams to prevent others from falling victim. Always remember: if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Also read: OpenAI hits back at Elon Musk, says he wanted it to become a for-profit company

How users reacted

  • Anyone who believes this is real should get their brains examined.
  • Seriously? How can you tell the real person from the fake one? That looks pretty real to me
  • Facebook runs who knows how many fake ads of Elon daily
  • The whole internet has been a scam for a quite a long time.
  • AI went too far
  • These crypto scammers run their ads nonstop on YouTube and it’s so annoying! Why doesn’t YouTube stop them?
  • YouTube is rife with fake videos. Reporting them does nothing.
  • Lol.   Tons of those out there. Not just Musk.
  • There are lot of deepfake videos of Elon musk circulating on other social media platforms as well. Elon must remain aware about this.
  • That’s a clear fake. terrible editing, for sure AI.
  • its easy to figure out … but good you posted cuz many may fall victim of such deep fakes..
  • I will believe it when it comes from the man Elon himself. Otherwise it is more fake news
  • His voice is, “off”–and he’s not using his eyebrows.
  • it’s fake enough to not fool people who can spot it. but real enough for the most likely victims to fall for it.
  • Always cross check with Grok!
  • A deepfake of Elon promoting a crypto giveaway? Classic scam move.
Ayushi Jain

Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds.

Connect On :