A 72-year-old grandmother has been scammed out of more than $220,000 after falling victim to an elaborate cryptocurrency scheme involving an AI-generated deepfake video of New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon. The video, which was shared on Facebook, falsely depicted Luxon encouraging investment in Bitcoin, sparking concerns over the increasing sophistication of online fraud.
Jill Creasy, the pensioner in question, first encountered the video in July. She was drawn in by what seemed to be a realistic portrayal of the Prime Minister advising retirees to invest in cryptocurrency to boost their income. The deepfake also featured other prominent figures, including TVNZ broadcaster Jenny May Clarkson and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, further lending an air of credibility to the scam.
Creasy had inherited $200,000 from her late mother’s estate and was eager to secure her financial future. In addition to her savings, she decided to invest in cryptocurrency after responding to the advertisement. She was soon contacted by a man calling himself Adam Manolas, who claimed to be an investment advisor with Terma Group, based in Manchester.
Manolas guided Creasy through the investment process, instructing her to install remote access software, AnyDesk, on her computer. This gave him control over her device, allowing him to set up cryptocurrency exchange accounts in her name on platforms like Easy Crypto and Binance. Using her TSB internet banking, he began transferring funds, with each payment amounting to $20,000 — her daily limit.
Over a period of 26 days, Creasy transferred nearly all her savings and inheritance into Bitcoin. However, instead of being deposited into her personal Binance wallet as promised, the funds were routed to an account controlled by the scammers. A computer expert, who later assisted Creasy in investigating the fraud, tracked the funds to a holding account containing nearly $1 billion in cryptocurrency, suggesting the involvement of a large international criminal network.
“When I first saw the video, it seemed so genuine. I thought my money was safe,” Creasy told the Herald on Sunday. “First of all, I felt angry and then I felt foolish, then I felt really ashamed.”
Despite warnings from her bank, TSB, and Easy Crypto about the unusual nature of the transactions, Creasy remained convinced by the scam. “It’s my fault. I facilitated him getting into my account. I was conned, and it’s a terrible feeling because you can’t really believe it,” she admitted.
After realising the fraud, Creasy reported the scam to both the police and her bank, but her money could not be recovered. TSB froze her accounts and attempted to retrieve the funds but was ultimately unable to do so. A spokesman for the Prime Minister emphasised that Luxon would never endorse any specific investment and urged the public to remain vigilant against online scams.
Despite these assurances, Creasy remains devastated by her loss. “This woman has no money,” she overheard one of the scammers say during a phone call. The scam wiped out not only her savings and inheritance but also money set aside for her grandchildren.
Both TSB and Easy Crypto reiterated the importance of being cautious when making financial decisions online. TSB stated that Creasy had authorised all transactions and had enabled the scam by granting remote access to her computer. Easy Crypto, meanwhile, had reached out to her to verify the legitimacy of the transactions, but Creasy insisted that everything was in order.
Authorities continue to investigate the case, but the incident serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat posed by sophisticated cybercriminals. As the use of AI deepfake technology becomes more prevalent, experts warn that even the most cautious individuals can fall prey to these highly convincing scams.
