McAfee, a global cybersecurity firm, has released its annual “Most Dangerous Celebrity: Deepfake Deception List”, highlighting how scammers are exploiting the names and likenesses of celebrities and influencers to commit fraud.
The research was conducted online in August 2025, surveying 8,600 adults across Australia, France, Germany, India, Japan, the US, and the UK, aged 18 and above. Rankings were calculated using a weighted points model.
In India, Shah Rukh Khan is identified as the most exploited celebrity, followed by Alia Bhatt and Elon Musk. Their images and voices have reportedly been used in AI-generated deepfakes to promote fake endorsements, giveaways, or phishing links, and to distribute malicious downloads.
Key Findings in India
- 90% of respondents reported encountering fake or AI-generated celebrity endorsements.
- The average reported loss due to these scams was Rs. 34,500.
- 60% of respondents encountered deepfakes involving online influencers or personalities, not just mainstream celebrities.
- Scammers can create realistic deepfakes with as little as three seconds of audio.
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Common scam types include: Skincare promotions: 42%, Giveaways: 41%, Crypto or trading schemes: 40%, and Gadgets and supplements
Top 10 Most Dangerous Celebrities – India (2025)
- Shah Rukh Khan
- Alia Bhatt
- Elon Musk
- Priyanka Chopra Jonas
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- MrBeast
- Lionel Messi
- Taylor Swift
- Kim Kardashian
- Members of BTS
India’s high social media usage—95% on WhatsApp, 94% on YouTube, 84% on Instagram—makes users especially susceptible. Younger age groups are at higher risk:
- 62% of 35–44-year-olds and 60% of 25–34-year-olds reported clicking on fake celebrity ads.
- 53% of 18–24-year-olds did the same.
- Scepticism increases with age: only 46% of 45–54-year-olds and 17% of people over 65 fell for scams.
Measures for Protection
McAfee provides AI-powered tools such as the Deepfake Detector to analyze text, emails, and videos for potential manipulation. Recommended precautions include:
- Pause before clicking on content that seems unusual or “too good to be true.”
- Verify information on the celebrity’s official social media accounts.
- Look for signs of AI manipulation such as off-sync lip movements, robotic tone, or inconsistent lighting.
- Do not share personal or payment information via messages, even if the sender appears verified.
- Use McAfee’s Scam Detector, included in all core plans, to scan texts, emails, and videos for deepfake or scam indicators.
Outlook
The report highlights that deepfakes exploit the trust placed in celebrities and influencers. While the celebrities themselves are targets, consumers face financial and informational risks. Tools like McAfee’s Deepfake Detector and Scam Detector help users verify content before clicking, sharing, or making purchases.
Speaking about the rise of deepfakes, Pratim Mukherjee, Senior Director of Engineering, McAfee, said:
Deepfakes have changed the game for cybercriminals; they’re no longer hacking systems — they’re hacking human trust. India’s vibrant celebrity culture and massive online engagement make the threat even more dangerous. Technology can now effortlessly mimic the voices, faces, and mannerisms of people we admire. In a country where millions engage with celebrity and influencer content daily, such fakes can spread instantly. It’s becoming harder to tell what’s real and what’s not — making awareness, caution, and reliable protection tools more critical than ever.