McAfee has released its 2025 edition of the ‘Most Dangerous Celebrities: Deepfake Deception List’, highlighting how cybercriminals are increasingly using the names and likenesses of public figures to mislead online users. Shah Rukh Khan tops this year’s list as the most exploited personality, followed by Alia Bhatt and Elon Musk. Their images and voices are most frequently used in AI-powered deepfakes, which promote false endorsements, gifts, and links to fraudulent websites.
Shahrukh Khan, Alia Bhatt lead 2025 deepfake risk list; McAfee reports an average loss of Rs 34,500 per victim
According to the report, 90% of Indians have received fake or AI-generated celebrity advertisements. People who fell victim to such scams suffered an average loss of Rs 34,500. The findings also show that cheating is no longer limited to mainstream actors or global celebrities. Nearly 60% of respondents say they have encountered deepfake content featuring influencers and digital creators, reflecting the rapid proliferation of manipulated media across all platforms.
The report attributes the growing threat to India’s highly active digital ecosystem. With 95% of users on WhatsApp, 94% on YouTube and 84% on Instagram, the country’s social media presence makes it a prime target for online scams that rely on manipulated celebrity content.
The study also said fraudsters now need only three seconds of a person’s voice to create believable audio deepfakes. These creations are typically used to endorse gadgets and supplements, as well as promote counterfeit skin care products, gifts, and cryptocurrency schemes.
McAfee India’s top 10 ‘most dangerous celebrities’ of 2025
- Shahrukh Khan
- Alia Bhatt
- Elon Musk
- Priyanka Chopra Jonas
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- mrbeast
- Lionel Messi
- Taylor Swift
- Kim Kardashian
- members of bts
“Deepfakes have changed the game for cybercriminals; they’re no longer hacking systems – they’re hacking human trust,” said Pratim Mukherjee, senior director of engineering at McAfee. “India’s vibrant celebrity culture and massive online engagement makes the threat even more dangerous. Technology can now easily mimic the voices, faces and behavior of people we admire. In a country where millions of people engage with celebrity and influencer content daily, such hoaxes can spread quickly. It is becoming harder to tell what is real and what is not – awareness, caution and reliable security tools have become more important than ever.”
India has one of the most socially engaged digital populations in the world, with 95% of people using WhatsApp, 94% of people using YouTube and 84% of people using Instagram, and it is particularly vulnerable to scams disguised as celebrity content. McAfee’s findings show that younger users are most at risk: 62% of 35-44 year olds and 60% of 25-34 year olds admitted to clicking on fake celebrity ads, while the rate was 53% among 18-24 year olds. Skepticism increases with age, as only 46% of 45-54 year olds and only 17% of those over 65 said they had ever fallen for such scams.
Bollywood News – Live Updates
Follow us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box Office Collection, New Movies Release, Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2025 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on IHNS.
