Fraudsters created a WhatsApp account using a public image of WPP CEO Mark Read and used it to set up a Microsoft Teams meeting with a senior WPP executive. In the meeting they deployed a voice clone and YouTube footage of Read, plus impersonation in the chat window, to try to get the executive to set up a new business and hand over money and personal details.
AIC-0013 S3 · Serious
WPP CEO deepfake voice-clone fraud attempt
- Harm
- Attempted business fraud and data theft against the world's largest advertising group; no funds lost.
- Detection
- The targeted executive grew suspicious; the scam failed. Read warned staff by internal email.
- Outcome
- Attack unsuccessful; WPP issued internal vigilance warning. No arrests reported.
A documented entry in the AI Crime Registry, a Defici non-profit initiative. Sourced from public reporting; corrections: [email protected].