Romania’s cybersecurity agency called out a new online scam that fraudulently uses the image of President Nicușor Dan in a fake investment scheme.
The warning comes as Romania faces an onslaught of disinformation and scams online which authorities have begun to address and warn the public.
The pro-Western president has been a target in Russia’s wider hybrid war against Europe, but the agency did not say whether the latest scam was politically or economically motivated, or both.
The National Cyber Security Directorate (DNSC) explained that the fraudulent campaign relies on manipulated video materials, known in the industry as deepfakes, in which the Romanian president appears to promote a fake investment opportunity promising hefty revenue.
Cybersecurity experts explained that such scams are designed to manipulate emotions, and entice victims into disclosing personal information, and then fool them into transferring money to cyber attackers.
The DNSC said that no Romanian institution endorses ‘get rich’ schemes and urged the public to remain vigilant.
Officials recommend people verify the sources of online materials, particularly when they feature public figures advertising apparently “safe investments” or guaranteed returns.
People are also advised to only access official websites, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and never share personal or financial information on unverified platforms.
Romanian authorities also called on users to report fraudulent content immediately, both to the respective social media platform and directly to the DNSC through its hotline at 1911 or email dnsc.ro.
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