Scammers Are Creating Fake News Videos to Blackmail Victims
1 min read
Summary
Nigerian-based Yahoo Boys online romance and sextortion scammers are using AI-generated ‘news’ videos featuring realistic-looking anchors to blackmail victims into paying them.
Self-styled Yahoo Boys shared tutorial videos on the Telegram messaging platform instructing other scammers how to create their own fake news to use in blackmail attempts.
The videos use US TV network logos and branding to give them a realistic appearance, with the newsreader naming and shaming the individual being targeted and displaying their photograph.
These new tactics are a significant step up from previous methods, with the news clips even alleging that victims have talked with underage females, while screenshots have shown police are searching for them.
A spokesperson for Telegram said the company would take action against such channels as content from them violated its rules.