YouTube Has A Serious Phishing Problem, And AI Is To Blame

Did YouTube CEO Neal Mohan really send you a private video about monetization? If so, don’t feel flattered—feel suspicious. YouTube is warning creators about a new AI-powered phishing scam impersonating its CEO.

A YouTube phishing video expedition

YouTube says that it is “aware that phishers have been sharing private videos to send false videos, including an AI generated video of YouTube’s CEO Neal Mohan announcing changes in monetization.”

The company makes it clear that its employees will never attempt to contact you to share information through a private video. YouTube also warns that any video shared with you privately that claims to be from YouTube is a phishing scam. It also cautions users against clicking any links. This can take users to sites that install malware on their devices or steal their credentials.

This isn’t the first time YouTube creators have encountered phishing scams. Reddit users are sharing similar experiences where they received emails from an account called “Notification for YouTube Creators.” It shared a private video with them, along with instructions to download a malicious file. Another incident was when a user received a private video from “Channel for Creators,” which asked them to agree to a new monetization policy by taking them to a fake DocuSign site. What’s worrying is that these emails came from [email protected].

The rise of deepfake

In the past, attackers relied on cleverly designed websites and emails to impersonate an individual or organization. Now, thanks to AI technology and the rise of deepfake videos, like  the one of YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, attackers are challenging the notion of “seeing is believing.”

AI and deepfake videos have their uses. Much like tools, these technologies are neither good nor bad—it’s just how they are used. For instance, deepfake videos and AI can be combined to bring comfort to a bereaved parent or spouse, letting them “talk” to their child or partner again.

It is useful in marketing or advertising campaigns for companies on a low budget. It allows these companies to throw together a makeshift video on a shoestring budget in minutes. However, it’s hard to deny the potential for misuse is high. As AI’s growth is accelerating, companies need to catch up and introduce better deepfake detection tools.