Russia Warns of Deepfake Scam Impersonating Regional Governors

Scammers are using deepfake technology and fake messenger accounts to impersonate Russian officials and pressure citizens into transferring money.

Russia’s Interior Ministry has issued a warning about a growing fraud scheme that uses deepfake videos to impersonate regional governors and local officials. Cybercriminals create fake accounts in messaging apps, posing as public figures including municipal leaders and members of legislative and executive bodies.

The impersonators reach out to citizens via chat or video call, using deepfake-generated videos with intentionally poor image quality to mask the deception. These fabricated conversations often begin with a supposed urgent request from law enforcement, followed by psychological pressure to transfer funds. Victims are told the money is needed to verify security protocols or expose criminal networks. Once funds are sent, the scammers disappear.

Russian cybersecurity experts have advised people to restrict access to their personal photos on social media. Deepfake models rely heavily on facial data, and criminals are already using stolen images to generate fake intimate photos for blackmail. In documented cases, victims were extorted with threats to distribute the altered images to friends and family unless they paid an anonymous account.