AI Incidents
Real-world cases where AI systems caused harm, classified by risk domain and entity. Data sourced from
AIID and classified by MIT AI Risk Initiative. CC BY-SA 4.0
464 incidents
Alleged Deepfake of New Zealand Endocrinologist Reportedly Promotes Misleading Diabetes Claim
A video circulated on social media that appeared to feature University of Otago endocrinologist Sir Jim Mann allegedly promoting a hemp gummy product for diabetes patients and urging them to stop using metformin. The video was reportedly generated using AI and has been described as spreading manipulated visuals and speech presenting false medical advice.
Aspiring Artist Cherelle Kozak Reportedly Targeted by AI-Powered Impersonation of Rapper Fat Joe
An aspiring artist in Austin, Texas, Cherelle Kozak, was targeted by a scammer using AI-generated video and voice to impersonate rapper Fat Joe. The impersonator appeared on a call, encouraged her to upload music for supposed radio play, and then demanded payment. Kozak did not comply. The scam closely resembled one that Fat Joe publicly warned about on January 5, 2025.
Hong Kong Authorities Seize HK$34M in Alleged Deepfake Scam Targeting Victims in Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia
Hong Kong police arrested 31 people linked to a deepfake scam syndicate that allegedly defrauded victims in Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. The group used AI-generated images to impersonate wealthy women, training recruits to discuss luxury lifestyles, finance, and cryptocurrency to gain trust. Scammers reportedly persuaded victims to invest in fraudulent schemes, with police intercepting HK$34 million in illicit proceeds.
Alleged Deepfake of Luis Suárez Used to Scam Uruguayans in Fake Investment Scheme
On December 26, 2024, UTE, Uruguay's public utility company, warned of an alleged deepfake video circulating on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. The video reportedly features manipulated images and voice of footballer Luis Suárez, falsely promoting an investment scheme claiming a 10,400 peso investment could yield 175,000 pesos monthly. It also reportedly uses AI-altered Telemundo footage. UTE urged the public not to share personal data, as the scam links to phishing sites posing as official sources.
Romance Scammer 'Alla Morgan' Allegedly Exploits Deepfake Technology to Defraud Victim of £17,000
A scammer, or scammers, reportedly used AI-generated deepfake videos and documents to impersonate a fictitious person named "Alla Morgan," allegedly convincing a 77-year-old woman, Nikki MacLeod, to send £17,000 through various payment methods. The deepfakes were allegedly used in establishing credibility so as to enable fraud under the pretense of an online romantic relationship.
Global Cybercrime Network Storm-2139 Allegedly Exploits AI to Generate Deepfake Content
A global cybercrime network, Storm-2139, allegedly exploited stolen credentials and developed custom tools to bypass AI safety guardrails. They reportedly generated harmful deepfake content, including nonconsensual intimate images of celebrities, and their software is reported to have disabled content moderation, hijacked AI access, and resold illicit services. Microsoft disrupted the operation and filed a lawsuit in December 2024, later identifying key members of the network in February 2025.
Character.ai Chatbots Allegedly Emulating School Shooters and Their Victims
Some Character.ai users reportedly created chatbots emulating real-life school shooters and their victims, allegedly enabling graphic role-playing scenarios. Character.ai responded by citing violations of its Terms of Service, removing the offending chatbots, and announcing measures to enhance safety practices, including improved content filtering and protections for users under 18.
AI Voice Cloning of Ari Melber Allegedly Exploited in Scam Targeting Elderly Woman
A scammer allegedly impersonated MSNBC anchor Ari Melber using AI-generated voice messages and a fake social media profile to defraud a 73-year-old woman, Patricia Taylor. Over four months, the scammer reportedly manipulated her into believing they were in a relationship, ultimately convincing her to send $20,000.
HTML/Nomani Deepfake Phishing Campaigns Allegedly Use AI-Generated Content to Defraud Social Media Users
AI-generated deepfakes were reportedly used in the "HTML/Nomani" phishing campaign to mimic legitimate platforms like booking services and lured victims into investment scams. These scams allegedly leveraged realistic fake content to deceive users on social media for the purposes of financial fraud. This campaign was part of the rising misuse of AI in cybercrime during the second half of 2024.
Matryoshka Campaign Allegedly Uses Deepfakes to Impersonate Academics for Pro-Russian Propaganda
The Matryoshka disinformation campaign allegedly used AI to impersonate academics, reportedly spreading claims supporting Russia and urging Ukraine's surrender. These videos are said to have misrepresented scholars’ views in order to amplify pro-Russian propaganda. The campaign reportedly exploited global social media platforms to allegedly mislead viewers and undermine trust in credible academic voices while fueling misinformation about the Ukraine conflict.
Scammers Reportedly Using Deepfakes of Health Experts and Public Figures in Australia to Sell Health Supplements and Give Harmful Advice
Scammers are reportedly harnessing AI-generated deepfakes of health experts and public figures in Australia in order to sell health supplements and give harmful health advice. Among the reported cases, deepfake videos are alleged to have falsely depicted Jonathan Shaw and Karl Stefanovic endorsing "Glyco Balance" for diabetes management, while Karl Kruszelnicki reportedly was falsely shown promoting blood pressure pills.
Meeten Malware Campaign Reportedly Undermines Web3 Security Using AI-Legitimized Branding
Threat actors, using aliases such as "Meeten," "Meetio," and "Clusee," reportedly deployed AI-generated content to create fake company websites, blogs, and social media profiles, impersonating legitimate businesses in order to trick Web3 professionals and cryptocurrency users into downloading Realst malware. The malware allegedly targets macOS and Windows platforms, steals credentials, browser data, and cryptocurrency wallet information, exfiltrating sensitive data to remote servers.
Purported Deepfake Nude Images of Students Circulated Without Consent at Valencia Educational Institute
Purported deepfake nude images of female students were circulated without consent at an educational institute in Valencia, Spain. At least 16 minors reported that original photographs had been digitally manipulated so they appeared completely naked, with some images shared via social media accounts created in victims' names. The alleged creation and distribution of the images is being examined under Spanish laws related to the protection of minors.
Ohio Man Pleaded Guilty after Prosecutors Alleged He Used AI to Create and Distribute Nonconsensual Intimate-Image Forgeries Including CSAM in Harassment Campaign
An Ohio man, James Strahler II, pleaded guilty in federal court after prosecutors alleged that, from late 2024 into mid-2025, he used AI tools to create and distribute nonconsensual intimate-image forgeries as part of a broader harassment campaign targeting at least six adult women. Authorities said the conduct also involved additional CSAM material. The Department of Justice said it believes this was the first U.S. conviction under the Take It Down Act.
Florida Woman Reportedly Jailed After Ex-Boyfriend Allegedly Submitted AI-Fabricated Text Screenshot as Bond-Violation Evidence
A Florida nurse, Melissa Sims, was reportedly jailed for two days for purportedly violating a bond/no-contact order. Reportedly, her ex-boyfriend produced purportedly AI-generated text messages or a "text receipt" attributed to her.