Fake video with Russell Crowe's face used to lure people into a property scam: ‘Don’t fall for it’
- Replies 5
In an era where technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, the line between reality and fiction is becoming increasingly blurred.
A recent incident involving Australian star and Hollywood legend Russell Crowe has brought to light the alarming potential of 'deep fake' technology, a sophisticated form of digital impersonation, to deceive and defraud unsuspecting victims.
The 59-year-old actor found himself at the centre of a scandal when a Maltese real estate firm, 'Swipelets', used a deep fake video of him to promote their properties.
The video featured a grainy and unconvincing Crowe delivering a monologue praising the company's new app, with poorly edited aerial clips of prime Maltese real estate playing in the background.
The deep fake Crowe enthusiastically announced, 'Ladies and gentlemen, I'm excited to share some fantastic news with you, especially for those of you in Malta or anyone considering a move to this beautiful island.’
‘I recently discovered an incredible tool that has made my house-hunting experience truly seamless and enjoyable.'
Crowe, however, was quick to denounce the video as a sham.
He took to social media to warn his followers about the fraudulent video, stating, 'This is going around in Malta. It is obviously fake…don’t fall for it.’
‘What else is obvious is that this service/business must be shonky and underhanded to resort to this way of promoting itself.’
‘Block, report, ignore. I’ve never used this service [and] I do not endorse this BS.'
Despite Crowe's public denouncement, 'Swipelets' seemed unapologetic, even boasting about their partnership with Crowe on their social media page.
‘Thrilled to unveil our partnership with the legendary Russell Crowe!' the now-deleted post said.
‘Swipelets x Real Estate Agency Malta join forces with the Gladiator himself, bringing you unparalleled real estate experiences.’
'Stay tuned for exclusive listings and a touch of Hollywood magic!'
You can watch the deep fake video below:
Credit: @russellcrowe / X (formerly Twitter)
Crowe's connection to Malta goes beyond this recent issue.
The actor has long been a fan of the Mediterranean archipelago, located between Sicily and the coast of North Africa.
He achieved global fame playing the lead in Ridley Scott's 2000 film Gladiator, many scenes of which were filmed in Malta.
He also performed with his band, The Gentlemen Barbers, in the Maltese capital, Valletta, in June last year.
He even joked about making this country his second home.
'You never know...there have been discussions on citizenship,' he told a press conference.
There have also been rumours about Crowe retiring from Hollywood after 40 years.
Crow addressed his future in the industry last year at the 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic.
What was his take on this? Find out more about it here.
Have you ever encountered a deep fake video? How did you know it was fake? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.
A recent incident involving Australian star and Hollywood legend Russell Crowe has brought to light the alarming potential of 'deep fake' technology, a sophisticated form of digital impersonation, to deceive and defraud unsuspecting victims.
The 59-year-old actor found himself at the centre of a scandal when a Maltese real estate firm, 'Swipelets', used a deep fake video of him to promote their properties.
The video featured a grainy and unconvincing Crowe delivering a monologue praising the company's new app, with poorly edited aerial clips of prime Maltese real estate playing in the background.
A ‘deep fake’ video endorsement of Russell Crowe circulated online. Credit: @russellcrowe / X (formerly Twitter)
The deep fake Crowe enthusiastically announced, 'Ladies and gentlemen, I'm excited to share some fantastic news with you, especially for those of you in Malta or anyone considering a move to this beautiful island.’
‘I recently discovered an incredible tool that has made my house-hunting experience truly seamless and enjoyable.'
Crowe, however, was quick to denounce the video as a sham.
He took to social media to warn his followers about the fraudulent video, stating, 'This is going around in Malta. It is obviously fake…don’t fall for it.’
‘What else is obvious is that this service/business must be shonky and underhanded to resort to this way of promoting itself.’
‘Block, report, ignore. I’ve never used this service [and] I do not endorse this BS.'
Despite Crowe's public denouncement, 'Swipelets' seemed unapologetic, even boasting about their partnership with Crowe on their social media page.
‘Thrilled to unveil our partnership with the legendary Russell Crowe!' the now-deleted post said.
‘Swipelets x Real Estate Agency Malta join forces with the Gladiator himself, bringing you unparalleled real estate experiences.’
'Stay tuned for exclusive listings and a touch of Hollywood magic!'
You can watch the deep fake video below:
Credit: @russellcrowe / X (formerly Twitter)
Crowe's connection to Malta goes beyond this recent issue.
The actor has long been a fan of the Mediterranean archipelago, located between Sicily and the coast of North Africa.
He achieved global fame playing the lead in Ridley Scott's 2000 film Gladiator, many scenes of which were filmed in Malta.
He also performed with his band, The Gentlemen Barbers, in the Maltese capital, Valletta, in June last year.
He even joked about making this country his second home.
'You never know...there have been discussions on citizenship,' he told a press conference.
There have also been rumours about Crowe retiring from Hollywood after 40 years.
Crow addressed his future in the industry last year at the 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic.
What was his take on this? Find out more about it here.
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