AI Clones Chinese Diving Queen In Massive Egg Scam

A shocking report from China reveals how scammers are leveraging advanced AI to exploit the reputations of national heroes. In a recent case, celebrated diving queen Quan Hongchan was digitally cloned to promote and sell eggs to tens of thousands of unsuspecting fans.

How the High-Tech Scam Unfolded

The fraud was orchestrated through a social media account with 14,000 followers. According to a report from state media outlet China Central Television on August 18, this account published deepfake videos of the 18-year-old Olympic champion to create a false endorsement for free-range eggs. The sophisticated racket successfully deceived an astonishing 47,000 consumers.

The Deceptive Deepfake Video

Scammers created a video that appeared to show Quan, wearing a face mask, personally speaking to her followers and endorsing the products. The video falsely claimed the eggs were produced on her family's farm, a lie designed to build trust and drive sales.

Following the direct address, the video transitioned to show footage of chickens on a farm and close-ups of the egg products. Throughout this sequence, a cloned version of Quan's voice continued as a voiceover, reinforcing the fraudulent narrative. This combination of visuals and a trusted, albeit fake, voice proved to be a dangerously effective tactic, highlighting the growing threat of AI-driven misinformation in e-commerce.