PASIG CITY, Philippines — Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto warned the public on Tuesday about the spread of AI-generated videos that use his face and voice to promote investment and romance scams, urging residents to verify online content and avoid fraudulent schemes.
Sotto issued the warning through a Facebook post that included an AI-generated video compilation of fake clips featuring his likeness. In the post, he said scammers now use artificial intelligence to create realistic videos and audio that can deceive viewers.
He wrote that online financial crime has grown significantly and advised the public to be cautious of investment scams, love scams, and gambling promotions that use manipulated media.
Sotto also said AI-generated content can now closely resemble real people in both appearance and voice, making it harder to detect fraudulent material. He warned that future technology could enable scammers to impersonate individuals during video calls.
The mayor encouraged families to raise awareness, particularly among older or more vulnerable individuals who may be targeted by scams.
Sotto said he used a comedic tone in his post but stressed that the issue is serious, citing cases of people who have already lost money to similar schemes.
