Popular video sharing app YouTube just issued a warning to users about the rise in fake AI-generated videos. Now, threat actors are carrying out phishing attacks using such content that features the company’s CEO.
Yes, Neal Mohan based videos made from AI are targeting people through emails, where they trick creators into believing they are authentic. The video speaks about the app’s changes to monetization policies just so that they can steal the users’ credentials.
Most attackers share the content privately, claiming it’s from YouTube as it has the CEO’s face on it. The company says it was made aware of this mega phishing campaign on the rise and needed others to take notice and not fall into the trap.
Phishers are using the face of Neal Mohan to target victims, but the company says that it never operates in this manner. If and when there are changes to the app’s policy, no one from YouTube would reach out privately through a video to discuss the changes.
If that has taken place with you recently and you are a creator part of the app’s monetization program, just remember it’s a major phishing scam, the app warned. Interestingly, the phishing emails also warn creators that the app will never share their data or contact anyone privately. They ask the creator to report the channel sending any kind of suspicious email, which again is ironic as the whole thing is a major scam.
The description asks users to open links that bring them into a new page where they need to complete and confirm the latest details linked to the app’s Partner Program. If they don’t, their content will no longer be monetized and they would be barred from accessing the app’s features.
The page is created to steal all the credentials instead, and victims are not aware that they are falling into a trap that has been so sophisticatedly designed. All scammers will produce a sense of urgency and even threaten that they have a limited timeframe of seven days to complete the request or they risk monetization through the company’s program.
After the creator adds credentials, unaware of what is to come next, they get an alert stating the channel is in pending status. They are asked to open this document located inside the video description so that all necessary data to move on can be attained.
The app’s users have been getting such emails since the start of this year, and it’s shocking how the company has chosen to release a statement on this front right now. In its defense, YouTube says it began investigations in mid-February. Therefore, it’s now alerting users to be careful and not click on any links embedded inside the emails as it redirects them to unknown phishing sites that will steal sensitive credentials or infect systems with malware.
Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next: Meta Creeps Viewers Out With AI-Generated Profiles Overtaking the Facebook App
Yes, Neal Mohan based videos made from AI are targeting people through emails, where they trick creators into believing they are authentic. The video speaks about the app’s changes to monetization policies just so that they can steal the users’ credentials.
Most attackers share the content privately, claiming it’s from YouTube as it has the CEO’s face on it. The company says it was made aware of this mega phishing campaign on the rise and needed others to take notice and not fall into the trap.
Phishers are using the face of Neal Mohan to target victims, but the company says that it never operates in this manner. If and when there are changes to the app’s policy, no one from YouTube would reach out privately through a video to discuss the changes.
If that has taken place with you recently and you are a creator part of the app’s monetization program, just remember it’s a major phishing scam, the app warned. Interestingly, the phishing emails also warn creators that the app will never share their data or contact anyone privately. They ask the creator to report the channel sending any kind of suspicious email, which again is ironic as the whole thing is a major scam.
The description asks users to open links that bring them into a new page where they need to complete and confirm the latest details linked to the app’s Partner Program. If they don’t, their content will no longer be monetized and they would be barred from accessing the app’s features.
The page is created to steal all the credentials instead, and victims are not aware that they are falling into a trap that has been so sophisticatedly designed. All scammers will produce a sense of urgency and even threaten that they have a limited timeframe of seven days to complete the request or they risk monetization through the company’s program.
After the creator adds credentials, unaware of what is to come next, they get an alert stating the channel is in pending status. They are asked to open this document located inside the video description so that all necessary data to move on can be attained.
The app’s users have been getting such emails since the start of this year, and it’s shocking how the company has chosen to release a statement on this front right now. In its defense, YouTube says it began investigations in mid-February. Therefore, it’s now alerting users to be careful and not click on any links embedded inside the emails as it redirects them to unknown phishing sites that will steal sensitive credentials or infect systems with malware.
Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next: Meta Creeps Viewers Out With AI-Generated Profiles Overtaking the Facebook App
