AI-Generated Deepfake Videos Used to Scam Vulnerable Colombians with Fake Medicine Endorsements

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Colombian priest Jesús Hernán Orjuela ('Padre Chucho') publicly denounced the use of AI-generated deepfake videos that impersonate him and another priest to promote a fake 'miracle medicine.' The scam targets vulnerable individuals, causing financial and potential health harm through AI-enabled identity theft and misinformation.[AI generated]

Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?

An AI system is explicitly involved as the fraudulent videos use artificial intelligence to manipulate the priest's image and voice. The use of these AI-generated deepfakes to promote a fake medication directly leads to harm by deceiving and potentially endangering the health of people, especially vulnerable patients. Therefore, this qualifies as an AI Incident due to realized harm caused by AI misuse in a scam context.[AI generated]
AI principles
AccountabilityTransparency & explainabilitySafetyRespect of human rights
Industries
Media, social platforms, and marketingHealthcare, drugs, and biotechnologyDigital security
Affected stakeholders
Consumers
Harm types
Economic/PropertyPhysical (injury)Reputational
Severity
AI incident
AI system task:
Content generation

Articles about this incident or hazard

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Padre 'Chucho' expuso delicada situación sobre supuesto medicamento: "No se dejen robar"

2025-11-14
PULZO
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
An AI system is explicitly involved as the fraudulent videos use artificial intelligence to manipulate the priest's image and voice. The use of these AI-generated deepfakes to promote a fake medication directly leads to harm by deceiving and potentially endangering the health of people, especially vulnerable patients. Therefore, this qualifies as an AI Incident due to realized harm caused by AI misuse in a scam context.
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Padre 'Chucho' denuncia estafa digital: usan su imagen para vender falsos "medicamentos milagrosos" | Noticias RCN

2025-11-15
Noticias RCN | Noticias de Colombia y el Mundo
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The article explicitly states that AI is used to manipulate videos of the priest to falsely promote a fake medicine, which is a digital scam targeting vulnerable people seeking health remedies. The AI system's misuse directly leads to harm by deceiving people and potentially causing financial and health-related damage. The harm is realized (not just potential), as the scam is actively circulating. Hence, this qualifies as an AI Incident due to direct harm caused by AI-generated manipulated content used in fraud.
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Padre 'Chucho' alerta por videos falsos que usan su imagen para vender medicamentos

2025-11-14
www.vanguardia.com
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The event explicitly mentions the use of AI to create manipulated videos impersonating the priest to promote a fake medicine, which is a direct misuse of AI technology causing harm by misleading vulnerable individuals. This constitutes an AI Incident because the AI system's use has directly led to harm through fraud and potential health risks. The harm is not hypothetical but ongoing, as the videos are circulating and deceiving people, fulfilling the definition of an AI Incident rather than a hazard or complementary information.
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Padre 'Chucho' denuncia grave problema con supuesto medicamento: "No se dejen engañar"

2025-11-14
El País Cali
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The event explicitly mentions the use of AI to clone the priest's image and alter his voice and mouth movements to create fake promotional videos for a non-existent medication. This misuse of AI has caused harm by enabling scams that financially exploit vulnerable people, fulfilling the criteria for an AI Incident under violations of rights and harm to communities. The harm is realized and ongoing, not just potential, and the AI system's role is pivotal in enabling the deception.
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Padre 'Chucho' alerta por videos falsos que usan su imagen para vender "medicamentos milagrosos" | Noticias de Norte de Santander, Colombia y el mundo

2025-11-14
Noticias de Norte de Santander, Colombia y el mundo
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The event involves AI systems explicitly through the use of AI to create manipulated videos (deepfakes). The use of these AI-generated videos has directly led to harm by deceiving vulnerable individuals into believing false medical claims, which can cause financial loss and health risks. This fits the definition of an AI Incident because the AI system's use has directly led to significant harm (fraud, misinformation, potential health harm).