Bank of Italy issues urgent warning as deepfake scams target Governor Fabio Panetta
2 Sources
2 Sources
[1]
Bank of Italy warns over deepfake video scams using Governor Panetta
MILAN, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The Bank of Italy on Thursday warned of potential scams involving fake articles, images and videos in which Governor Fabio Panetta appears on well-known TV shows or other media platforms, sometimes endorsing investment products. The central bank said it had filed a complaint with judicial authorities to protect the public from possible fraud and to safeguard both the institution and the governor's reputation. It said the material was entirely fabricated, and in several cases created using artificial-intelligence techniques commonly known as deepfakes - digitally manipulated audio or video designed to convincingly imitate real people. Reporting by Valentina Za. Editing by Mark Potter Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
[2]
Bank of Italy warns over deepfake video scams using Governor Panetta
MILAN, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The Bank of Italy on Thursday warned of potential scams involving fake articles, images and videos in which Governor Fabio Panetta appears on well-known TV shows or other media platforms, sometimes endorsing investment products. The central bank said it had filed a complaint with judicial authorities to protect the public from possible fraud and to safeguard both the institution and the governor's reputation. It said the material was entirely fabricated, and in several cases created using artificial-intelligence techniques commonly known as deepfakes - digitally manipulated audio or video designed to convincingly imitate real people. (Reporting by Valentina Za. Editing by Mark Potter)
Share
Share
Copy Link
The Bank of Italy has filed a complaint with judicial authorities after deepfake scams featuring Governor Fabio Panetta emerged across media platforms. The fabricated videos show Panetta falsely endorsing investment products on well-known TV shows, highlighting the growing threat of AI-powered fraud targeting financial institutions and public trust.
Central Bank Takes Action Against AI-Generated Fraud
The Bank of Italy issued a public warning on Thursday about deepfake scams featuring Governor Fabio Panetta appearing in fraudulent articles, images, and videos across various media platforms.
Source: Reuters
The central bank has filed a complaint with judicial authorities to protect the public from potential scams and safeguard the governor's reputation as these fabricated materials spread across well-known TV shows and digital channels
2
.How AI-Powered Deepfake Technology Enables Financial Fraud
The deepfake video scams utilize artificial intelligence techniques to create digitally manipulated audio and video content designed to convincingly imitate real people. In several cases, these AI-powered deepfake technology creations show Fabio Panetta falsely endorsing investment products, a tactic that exploits the governor's authority and public trust to lure potential victims. The material is entirely fabricated, yet sophisticated enough to appear authentic to unsuspecting viewers
2
.Related Stories
Growing Threat to Financial Institutions and Public Trust
This incident marks a concerning escalation in how scammers weaponize deepfake technology against high-profile financial figures. The Bank of Italy's swift response underscores the urgent need for institutions to combat fraud that leverages AI to damage reputation and deceive the public. As deepfakes become more accessible and convincing, financial authorities worldwide face mounting pressure to develop detection mechanisms and educate citizens about these evolving threats. The complaint filed with judicial authorities signals that legal frameworks must adapt to address AI-generated fraud, while individuals should verify investment opportunities through official channels rather than relying on social media or video content that may contain fabricated materials designed to exploit trust in public figures and institutions.
References
Summarized by
Navi
[2]
Related Stories
Recent Highlights
1
OpenAI secures $110 billion funding round from Amazon, Nvidia, and SoftBank at $730B valuation
Business and Economy
2
Samsung unveils Galaxy S26 lineup with Privacy Display tech and expanded AI capabilities
Technology
3
Anthropic faces Pentagon ultimatum over AI use in mass surveillance and autonomous weapons
Policy and Regulation
Recent Highlights
Today's Top Stories
Your Daily Dose of Curated AI News
Don’t drown in AI news. We cut through the noise - filtering, ranking and summarizing the most important AI news, breakthroughs and research daily. Spend less time searching for the latest in AI and get straight to action.
