Ripple warns of rising XRP scams fueled by AI deepfakes

Enterprise blockchain firm Ripple has issued a renewed warning to XRP holders over rising cryptocurrency scams, specifically cautioning against fake giveaways and deepfake videos impersonating top executives. This advisory comes as the crypto market sees renewed retail activity and scam attempts evolve in parallel, powered by generative AI and voice-cloning tools. Ripple’s announcement follows a spate of phishing incidents that led to over $25 million in losses in April alone, according to on-chain analytics. Ripple warns users of fake giveaways targeting XRP holders Ripple published the warning via its official X account, stating that neither the company nor any of its executives would ever ask users to send XRP or other tokens in order to receive more in return. Ripple @Ripple · Follow 🚨 PSA: Uptick in the crypto market = uptick in scams: on.ripple.com/4dpppxh 1️⃣ @Ripple will NEVER ask you to send XRP2️⃣ Brad, Monica, David, Stu, or anyone from Ripple won’t either3️⃣ Avoid clicking suspicious links4️⃣ Always verify official accounts before engagingStay 4:31 AM · May 20, 2025 1.9K Reply Copy link Read 85 replies This follows multiple scam attempts where fraudsters used manipulated video and voice content to impersonate CEO Brad Garlinghouse and President Monica Long, targeting unsuspecting investors with false promises of rewards. The company stressed that any such messages, especially those urging immediate participation or directing users to third-party links, should be treated with caution. Suspicious profiles and websites impersonating Ripple have also proliferated in recent months, taking advantage of confusion during major market moves. AI-powered scams becoming harder to detect The warning comes at a time when deepfake and AI-generated content is increasingly being used by bad actors to impersonate well-known figures in the crypto world. One high-profile example includes former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, who said in a recent post that he was unable to distinguish his real voice from an AI-generated version. Such tools allow scammers to create videos and audio that appear authentic, often pairing them with fake websites and real-time social engineering tactics. According to researchers tracking malicious activity on the blockchain, phishing campaigns involving impersonation tactics drained more than $25.4 million from users in April 2025 alone. Scammers typically distribute these attacks on platforms such as YouTube, Telegram, and X, often linking them to token airdrops or major company updates. Ripple said it is actively flagging and reporting such content to platforms but warned that detection and takedown efforts remain slow in many cases. Ripple’s scam warnings follow trend of industry alerts Ripple’s latest warning aligns with a growing number of industry advisories around crypto-related scams, especially those involving deepfake content. The FBI and regulatory agencies in both the US and UK have previously raised concerns about the sophistication of these attacks and urged platforms to implement better detection tools. In 2024, the FBI issued a public service announcement stating that scammers were increasingly using AI tools to impersonate public figures in finance and politics. Several centralised exchanges and crypto firms have since increased their own security communication, adding alerts and disclaimers on official profiles to warn users. Ripple has made it clear that all official announcements and communications can be verified through its primary channels, including its website and verified social media accounts. It also advised users to enable two-factor authentication on their accounts and to report any suspicious content immediately. As adoption of digital assets grows, Ripple’s warning serves as a reminder for users to remain vigilant, especially when dealing with unsolicited messages or unfamiliar platforms. The use of AI in these scams has significantly lowered the barrier for attackers, raising concerns that such activity could increase as the crypto market rebounds. The post Ripple warns of rising XRP scams fueled by AI deepfakes appeared first on Invezz

Source: Invezz