Artificial intelligence (AI) impersonation scams are increasingly targeting pastors and religious leaders, threatening the trust of their congregations. These scammers create deepfakes – AI-generated videos or audio recordings that mimic the voice, tone, and language of a real person – to deceive unsuspecting believers.
In November, Father Mike Schmitz, a Catholic priest and popular YouTube personality, warned his congregation about AI-generated impersonation scams targeting him. However, he soon realized that many of his followers had already fallen victim to these scams. The fake videos showed Schmitz making incendiary comments or asking for donations, which were not consistent with his usual sermons.
Since then, Schmitz has become an unlikely advocate against AI-generated impersonation scams targeting pastors and religious leaders. He believes that the proliferation of content featuring their likenesses and voices has created a perfect opportunity for scammers to exploit.
Cybersecurity expert Rachel Tobac notes that pastors have become extremely popular subjects of AI scams due to their large online followings. She warns that scammers can use AI-generated videos or audio recordings to impersonate prominent Catholic figures, including the pope.
The phenomenon is not limited to Catholic leaders. Pastors and ministers in Alabama, New York, Florida, and Nebraska have reported receiving scam messages or deepfakes targeting them. Some churches even received reports of deepfakes featuring their pastors.
Tobac attributes the rise of AI-generated impersonation scams to the increasing popularity of social media platforms like TikTok. She notes that scammers can create viral content quickly and easily, which can lead to significant financial rewards through TikTok's Creator Fund.
Industry watchdogs remain concerned about the mental health consequences of users interacting with AI-generated content, particularly those with a predisposition to delusional thinking. They warn that AI can reinforce false beliefs, leading to severe mental health issues.
In response to these concerns, some faith leaders have cautiously explored the use of AI tools in their worship services and outreach efforts. However, others, like Father Schmitz, remain skeptical about embracing technology that can be exploited by scammers.
In November, Father Mike Schmitz, a Catholic priest and popular YouTube personality, warned his congregation about AI-generated impersonation scams targeting him. However, he soon realized that many of his followers had already fallen victim to these scams. The fake videos showed Schmitz making incendiary comments or asking for donations, which were not consistent with his usual sermons.
Since then, Schmitz has become an unlikely advocate against AI-generated impersonation scams targeting pastors and religious leaders. He believes that the proliferation of content featuring their likenesses and voices has created a perfect opportunity for scammers to exploit.
Cybersecurity expert Rachel Tobac notes that pastors have become extremely popular subjects of AI scams due to their large online followings. She warns that scammers can use AI-generated videos or audio recordings to impersonate prominent Catholic figures, including the pope.
The phenomenon is not limited to Catholic leaders. Pastors and ministers in Alabama, New York, Florida, and Nebraska have reported receiving scam messages or deepfakes targeting them. Some churches even received reports of deepfakes featuring their pastors.
Tobac attributes the rise of AI-generated impersonation scams to the increasing popularity of social media platforms like TikTok. She notes that scammers can create viral content quickly and easily, which can lead to significant financial rewards through TikTok's Creator Fund.
Industry watchdogs remain concerned about the mental health consequences of users interacting with AI-generated content, particularly those with a predisposition to delusional thinking. They warn that AI can reinforce false beliefs, leading to severe mental health issues.
In response to these concerns, some faith leaders have cautiously explored the use of AI tools in their worship services and outreach efforts. However, others, like Father Schmitz, remain skeptical about embracing technology that can be exploited by scammers.
Scammers gonna make a fake video of their grandma asking for money too! 
I mean, I know some pastors have millions of followers online and that's a huge target, but come on, can't we just use some common sense here? Like, if you're getting a weird email or message from someone you don't recognize, it's probably not the other pastor or priest you trust. 
And what about all these AI tools being used for good, like helping us learn and stuff? Can't we find ways to stop bad people from using them for their own evil purposes? 
let's all just take a deep breath and remember that these scammers are just trying to make a quick buck 
OMG this is crazy! I'm not surprised tho, social media has created a perfect storm for these scams to spread like wildfire 
. It's like, how easy is it for someone to create a fake video of your pastor asking for money? 
.
. Scammers can create content in minutes and rake in the dough. Not cool.
Can we not be too careful with this tech stuff?
. Someone's gotta speak up against these scammers.
I mean, think about it - people are already so gullible online, now we got deepfakes and AI scams targeting pastors and religious leaders! It's like they're trying to take advantage of everyone's good vibes 
. And the worst part is that these scammers can use AI to impersonate anyone! I saw this video where a guy was like "oh, it's really Jesus speaking to you" 
. And can we please get some better security measures in place for our faith leaders?! 
. And now we're seeing deepfakes that are super convincing – like, the scammers can basically make it look like the pastor themselves is saying something crazy or asking for donations 
.
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I'm so worried about these pastors getting hacked 
. And now they're getting scammed by AI-generated deepfakes?! That's just low 
. I mean, can't we all just trust each other already? 
But at the same time, like, what if some pastor is like, totally not good at technology 
and someone takes advantage of them? That would be super sad 
.
And it's not just about the trust issues with your followers, it's also about the scammers making money off people's fears and superstitions. I don't get why some faith leaders are so quick to jump on board with AI tools without considering the risks. Can't they see how easily they could be manipulated? 
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i mean im all for people being careful online but this is just getting crazy what if the pope gets scammed too? 
. the fact that tiktok's creator fund can make it super easy for scammers to get rich off these scams is wild 
. some people might be thinking, 'oh, it's just a video', but trust me, it's not that simple 
it's just not right! These deepfakes are getting super realistic, making it hard for people to tell what's real and what's fake. I feel bad for the ones who've already fallen victim - they must be feeling so betrayed & anxious about their trust being broken 
