Purported Deepfake Endorsements Reportedly Used to Promote Fraudulent Health and Investment Products in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Summary

Purported deepfake videos and images impersonating Montenegrin MP and surgeon Vladimir Dobričanin and other public figures were reportedly used in Facebook and Instagram ads to promote fraudulent health products and investment schemes in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The impersonations allegedly directed users to scam websites linked to firms such as Digital Edge and Nearest Edge, reportedly causing harm while evading timely platform enforcement.

Developers

• Deepfake technology developers
• Synthetic audio generation technology developers
• Synthetic image generation technology developers

Deployers

• Scammers impersonating Montenegrin public figures
• Scammers impersonating Bosnian public figures
• Nearest Edge
• Limited Charm
• Digital Edge
• Scammers

Harmed parties

• Vladimir Dobričanin
• Petar Ivanović
• People seeking medical advice
• General public of Montenegro
• General public of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• General public
• Epistemic integrity
• Elderly individuals
• Dražen Živković