Chinese Authorities Warn of DeepSeek Fraudsters
Chinese officials have alerted the public about a criminal group deceiving investors by impersonating developers of a purported blockchain project called DeepSeek.
DeepSeek Crypto Scams Targeting Chinese Users
DeepSeek generated interest in January when its AI model reportedly matched OpenAI’s capabilities at lower costs. This excitement lured investors hoping to profit from its potential, but fraudsters took advantage and launched crowdfunding efforts, disappearing with the money soon after.
Victims were misled into believing they could earn over 10,000 yuan ($1,373) monthly through DeepSeek. Scammers sold a tutorial for 39.9 yuan ($5.5), claiming it contained secrets to creating viral content, yet only four of the 104 pages were relevant while the rest were public information.
In another plot, fake “monetization training camps” charged between 299 yuan ($41) and 399 yuan ($55) for worthless courses. Scammers even cultivated fake DeepSeek communities, masquerading as official groups where they offered “internal test qualifications” and “advanced courses.” They introduced DeepSeekCoin, a fraudulent cryptocurrency with dubious technical support, resulting in losses for investors.
In response to the situation, DeepSeek clarified its non-involvement with any cryptocurrencies. “DeepSeek has not issued any cryptocurrency. Currently, there is only one official account on the Twitter platform. We will not contact anyone through other accounts,” the project emphasized.
Fake DeepSeek Apps Spread Malware
Beyond financial scams, officials are also concerned about the spread of fraudulent DeepSeek applications containing malware. These applications, labeled under various names like DeepSeek.apk, DeepSeek.exe, DeepSeek.msi, and DeepSeek.dmg, could put users’ security at risk.
Once installed, these faux apps often prompt users to download harmful updates, giving malware access to sensitive data like contacts and messages. In some cases, the malware obstructs app removal, complicating the uninstallation process.
Authorities warn that the rising popularity of AI applications like DeepSeek could lead to an increase in similar scams. “We expect that various artificial intelligence applications, including impersonations of DeepSeek, will see a rise in virus Trojans,” stated the Chinese authorities.
Users are urged to validate the sources of AI-related investment opportunities and remain vigilant against suspicious applications that may threaten their security.
Comments (0)