--- title: "Scammers Deepfake Crypto Exec to Steal Money From People" description: "Binance CCO Patrick Hillman claims cybercriminals have been using a deepfake to take meetings with — and money from — a number of eager crypto projects." date: "2022-08-24" modified: "2022-08-24" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/scammers-deepfake-crypto-exec-to-steal-money" categories: - "Blockchain" - "Cryptocurrency" - "Future Society" tags: - "ai" - "crypto" - "deepfakes" - "the digest" --- # Scammers Deepfake Crypto Exec to Steal Money From People ![Binance CCO Patrick Hillman claims cybercriminals have been using a deepfake to take meetings with — and money from — a number of eager crypto projects.]() *\Image: Binance/Futurism\* ## That's Not Good Crypto bros beware. Binance CCO Patrick Hillman says that cybercriminals have been impersonating him using a convincing deepfake in order to take meetings with — and money from — a number of eager crypto projects. "Over the past month, I've received several online messages thanking me for taking the time to meet with project teams regarding potential opportunities to list their assets on Binance.com," Hillman [wrote on the Binance blog](). "This was odd because I don’t have any oversight of or insight into Binance listings, nor had I met with any of these people before." The exec further alleged that a "sophisticated hacking team" created the deepfake using video from "previous news interviews and TV appearances," then set up several meetings with various crypto enthusiasts. And apparently, the deepfake is pretty good — or at least "refined enough to fool several highly intelligent crypto community members." And that's striking. ## Bad Look Hillman didn't clarify how much money was taken, nor did he confirm how many fake meetings that the hackers got away with. But while there's no firm evidence to confirm Hillman's claims, it's not terribly difficult to believe. Deepfake tech — some [harmless and hilarious](), others [ill-intentioned]() — has come a [very long way in recent years](). And deepfakes aside, the web3 world is rife with [scams](), [schemes](), and [hacks of all kinds](). "Binance has zero tolerance for illicit activity in the crypto space as we see it as one of the greatest threats to the industry's growth," the exec continued in the blog post. "As a leader in the Web3 sector, we believe that we are responsible for ensuring the ecosystem's responsible growth – the kind that puts user safety front and center." It also should be noted, however, that the fear of deepfakes might actually precede their actual prevalence. While these scams are definitely out there, some cases of high-profile "deepfake" crime [have been debunked](). In any case, if any readers have a meeting scheduled with Hillman, it might be a good idea to [take some precautions](). **READ MORE:** [*Hackers Use Deepfakes of Binance Exec to Scam Multiple Crypto Projects*]() \[*Gizmodo*\] **More on deepfakes:** *[Simon Cowell Shocked by Deepfake Copy of Himself]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()