In 2025-2026, there has been a massive increase in fraudulent advertisements using deepfake technology. Fake videos featuring the faces of Czech celebrities, politicians and television presenters promote fictitious investment platforms. Hundreds of people in the Czech Republic have lost tens to hundreds of thousands of crowns.

Current Situation in the Czech Republic

According to the Gen Threat Report 2025, the risk of financial fraud in the Czech Republic has increased by 226% - making it the third most affected country in the world. Deepfake advertisements play a significant role in this increase.

Most frequently misused public figures:

Fraudsters use the faces of well-known entrepreneurs, news presenters, athletes and politicians. Deepfake videos look so convincing that an ordinary user cannot distinguish them from the original.

Where the ads appear:

  • Facebook and Instagram - as sponsored posts
  • YouTube - as pre-roll ads before videos
  • News portals - as native advertising (advertorials)
  • Google Ads - as text and image ads in search results

How Deepfake Works - Simplified

Deepfake is a technology based on artificial intelligence (AI), specifically neural networks. The software analyses thousands of photographs and videos of the target person and learns:

  • Facial muscle movements
  • Facial expressions and gestures
  • Voice colour and intonation
  • Manner of articulation

The result is a synthetic video in which the celebrity “says” something they never actually said. In 2026, the quality is so high that recognition without technical analysis is practically impossible.

Typical Deepfake Investment Fraud Scenario

  1. Ad on a social network: A celebrity in the video speaks about a “revolutionary investment opportunity” with a guaranteed return of 30-50% per month
  2. Link to a “news article”: A fake article on a website imitating a reputable Czech news outlet
  3. Registration on the platform: The victim enters their name, email and telephone number
  4. Call from a “broker”: A professional salesperson persuades the victim to deposit CZK 5,000-10,000
  5. Fictitious profits: On the platform, the victim sees their “investment” growing rapidly
  6. Larger deposits: The broker pressures the victim to increase their deposit - “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”
  7. Attempted withdrawal: When the victim tries to withdraw, they are asked for “fees”, “taxes” or “identity verification”
  8. Disappearance: The platform stops working, the broker stops answering the phone

How to Recognise a Deepfake Video

Visual artefacts:

  • Facial edges - blurred or unnatural transitions between the face and the background
  • Blinking - unnatural frequency or absence of blinking
  • Lips - lip movement does not precisely match the audio
  • Lighting - inconsistent shadows on the face versus the body
  • Hair - unusual artefacts around the hair, especially during movement

Content-based signals:

  • No celebrity promotes investment platforms through social media advertisements
  • A “guaranteed return” is always a lie in investing
  • Pressure to make a quick decision (“the offer is valid for 24 hours only”)
  • Non-existent regulation - the platform is not registered with the CNB (Czech National Bank)

Technical verification:

  • Search for the celebrity’s original statement on their official channels
  • Check the URL - fraudulent websites often imitate well-known domains with minor changes
  • Use deepfake detection tools (e.g. Microsoft Video Authenticator)

What to Do If You Invested Because of a Deepfake Ad

If you invested money in a fake platform on the basis of a deepfake ad, proceed as you would with any other investment fraud:

  1. Contact your bank immediately - request a payment recall
  2. Secure evidence - screenshots of the ad, the platform URL, email correspondence with the “broker”
  3. File a criminal complaint - with the Czech Police (ideally with a lawyer’s assistance)
  4. Report the ad to the platform - Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

Criminal law:

  • Criminal complaint against an unknown perpetrator for fraud (s 209 of the trestni zakonik (Czech Criminal Code))
  • Joinder of a civil claim in criminal proceedings - asserting a claim for damages within criminal proceedings
  • International cooperation - through EU instruments (MLA), Interpol

Civil law:

  • Action for damages - against identified persons
  • Interim measures - securing the assets of suspects
  • Action against platforms (Facebook, Google) - limited, depends on the circumstances

Prevention - How to Protect Yourself

  • Do not trust advertisements featuring celebrities promoting investments
  • Verify every investment platform in the CNB (Czech National Bank) register
  • Do not trust “guaranteed returns” - they do not exist in legitimate investing
  • Do not share personal information on unverified websites
  • Inform elderly relatives - seniors are a more frequent target

Conclusion

Deepfake advertisements are one of the fastest-growing types of online fraud. If you have fallen victim, do not hesitate to act - and above all, do not be reluctant to seek professional help.

Contact our office - we specialise in helping victims of online fraud and the initial consultation is free of charge.