A cybersecurity expert has criticized Google for its insufficient preventive measures against crypto-targeted deepfakes, particularly involving Bitcoin and high-profile figures like Elon Musk.

Recently, scammers created a fabricated video of billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk on YouTube to swindle unsuspecting users out of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC). These bad actors used artificial intelligence and real video clips to produce YouTube Live sessions, directing crypto users to deposit BTC on multiple fraudulent websites. The campaign garnered hundreds of thousands of views, with the potential financial losses still unknown.

Michael Marcotte, founder of the National Cybersecurity Center (NCC), highlighted that scammers are launching "a personal attack on Elon Musk as well as its ability to kneecap consumer confidence in Bitcoin." Hackers utilized Russian domain name registrars for the fake crypto depository platforms, promising to double user funds—a tactic likely intended to mislead law enforcement. "This unusual attack fingerprint raises serious questions about underlying intent and source," Marcotte stated.

The scammers leveraged an account with nearly one million followers and 250 million views, mimicking a verified Tesla YouTube account to gain credibility. Marcotte criticized Google's policies, stating, “The real indictment was that scammers were able to perpetrate this scam on YouTube for hours over the weekend without it being shut down. It is clear in this particular case that Google’s cybersecurity team was asleep at the wheel.”

Marcotte acknowledged that Google's team deserves some benefit of the doubt but emphasized that such a significant breach should have been swiftly flagged and addressed. Users have previously complained about unchecked attack vectors on Google that led to crypto losses. Last month, reports emerged of a fake Aggr Chrome extension bypassing Binance security, resulting in $1 million in losses. In April, scammers used paid ads on Google to promote a harmful over-the-counter crypto platform.

While Google has sometimes taken legal action against scammers, both users and experts agree that the company needs to do more to combat these incidents. Marcotte stressed, “It is now starkly obvious that we’re moving into a world where the line between real and fake is increasingly unclear. This weekend’s scam needs to be a radical wake-up call for the rest of the industry.”