I Got Deepfaked. Here's How To Spot A Scammer.
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What prompted Frances Cook to investigate the AI deep‑fake scam?
Hey team, it's Frances. Look, as someone who's chronically online, it's not that unusual for me to get a message letting me know that there's some horrible account pretending to be me and trying to trick people with it. It's really common and it's actually really hard to get these scam accounts taken down. But I've got to say, the scammers have really taken it to the next level this time. There are a series of videos circulating as paid ads on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. There's me, or at least a fake version of me, talking to the camera from my home office, only the movement is slightly stilted and the voice is much posher. There's a very much more British accent than I even have usually.
My mum will be thrilled to hear me with such rounded vowels. But anyway, as funny and weird as it is seeing this video, it is a bit of a worry that maybe it would trick people. So I wrote about it for my regular column for TVNZ, and the Breakfast team wanted to talk to me a bit more about it for my spot on the show. So
How did the fake videos of Frances appear and why are they so convincing?
We did. We had a good chat about that and also how you can spot some of the bad information circulating online when it comes to the money world. Keep yourself safe from the scammers that are frankly everywhere. They said I could put that conversation here for you as well. So enjoy.
from deep fakes to misinformation and viral money myths online it can be really hard to know who to trust and whether your money is really being put in the right places to help us spot the warning signs and avoid some common financial traps we're joined now by independent financial journalist francis cook good morning real version real version you know you're the second person in a week to be on the show that has been the subject of some ai fakery what's going on here
Yeah. So I opened up my inbox the other day and I do have quite an overwhelmed inbox, but this time there's even more. And it was people letting me know they'd seen these paid ads going around, particularly Facebook and Instagram, of me,
but fake
me, recommending joining some sketchy little WhatsApp groups. I can give you investment tips and it's all a big scam and it's awful.
This is not good. This is after Brad Folson and now, what are you calling it, Tova?
What warning signs did Frances notice in the scam ads and why do they matter?
Francis Cook. Francis Cook. Yes, no good. What is this actually saying, do you think, about people's appetite for a bit of guidance when it comes to their finances? Because if this is springing up all over the place, there must be a reason for it.
Honestly, anytime there's tough economic times, the scammers come out to play.
There's blood
in the water, the sharks come out. So this is – it was really interesting, actually. Full credit to them. The Financial Markets Authority got in touch with me and said, can you send us the details of this because we're working on this. We've seen a lot of sort of celebrity scams – excuse me, stumbling over that because I don't really put myself in that – category, but they've seen a lot of high profile people being used as these video avatars for these scams because people trust you.
Which red‑flag tactics (like urgency and “one‑size‑fits‑all” advice) signal a financial scam?
Because you've
worked hard to build your base, right? And actually you garner that trust.
Yeah. And the thought that horrifies me is if they're doing it, it is probably catching some people who then think I've scammed them. That genuinely makes me lose sleep at night.
All right. What about those red flags though, whether it's this or whether it's people online that are selling you the quick way to earn your riches? What are some of those red flags that you've written about for us?
Yes. So if it's something like a person like me, the problem is I do have things like newsletters. I'm saying sign up here. So I might be putting out a video and saying, go over here.
Why is it illegal in New Zealand to give blanket investment recommendations?
The thing to know is I will always tell you how how money works. It is very illegal in New Zealand for someone to go online and say, use this investment. Everyone should do this. And that's for a really good reason. If you're saying one size fits all, that's just bad financial advice. Different people have different goals, different tolerances, different things they're trying to achieve with their money.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What prompted Frances Cook to investigate the AI deep‑fake scam?
0:01–1:13
2
How did the fake videos of Frances appear and why are they so convincing?
1:13–2:20
3
What warning signs did Frances notice in the scam ads and why do they matter?
2:20–3:02
4
Which red‑flag tactics (like urgency and “one‑size‑fits‑all” advice) signal a financial scam?
3:02–3:37
5
Why is it illegal in New Zealand to give blanket investment recommendations?
3:37–4:20
6
How can listeners verify whether an online financial expert is legit or a grifter?
4:20–5:17
7
What final advice does Frances give for staying safe from deep‑fake and investment scams?
5:17–6:32
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