WPP CEO Mark Read targeted by deepfake video call scam impersonating his identity

Summary

The CEO of WPP, the world’s largest advertising company, Mark Read, was targeted by a deepfake scam involving an AI voice clone and a fake Microsoft Teams meeting. The fraudsters created a WhatsApp account using a publicly available image of Read and impersonated him during a virtual meeting with another senior executive. The scam aimed to solicit money and personal information from an agency leader but was unsuccessful. WPP confirmed the phishing attempt was prevented due to the vigilance of employees. The incident highlights the growing use of AI and deepfake technology in corporate fraud, with similar attacks targeting financial institutions and other organizations in recent years. WPP has also reported being targeted by fake websites using its brand name and is working with authorities to address the issue.