Cardano Foundation Deepfake Scam Targets Developer as CZ Issues Warning

TLDR:

• AI deepfake video and cloned voice helped scammers imitate a known Cardano Foundation executive
• Big Pey stopped the attack early after shutting down his laptop during the fake Teams update
• CZ reposted the warning, pushing wider awareness of deepfake scams across crypto communities
• Hacked Telegram accounts and fake Calendly links now appear in similar crypto-targeted attacks

A sophisticated scam using AI-generated video and voice nearly compromised a well-known crypto developer linked to the Cardano ecosystem. 

The attacker impersonated Pierre Kaklamanos, Head of Digital Assets Adoption at the Cardano Foundation, during what appeared to be a legitimate Microsoft Teams call. The target, developer Big Pey, said the scam almost succeeded after he followed instructions during the fake meeting. 

Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao later amplified the warning as similar cases surfaced across crypto communities.

Cardano Foundation Deepfake Scam Used Fake Teams Call

Big Pey shared the incident on X, explaining that the attacker contacted him while pretending to be Pierre Kaklamanos. He said they had spoken before through real calls, which made the outreach appear normal.

The scam started with a request to discuss Atrium, followed by a scheduled Microsoft Teams meeting for the next day. The invite included a Teams link, and everything looked legitimate.

When Pey joined, he said he saw Pierre’s face, heard his voice, and noticed two other supposed Cardano Foundation members. He later said he believes AI generated the entire interaction.

During the call, the connection lagged and the system claimed his Teams software was outdated. He was then prompted to install a new version using Microsoft Terminal.

Pey said he followed the instruction because he rarely uses Teams and believed the process was standard. His laptop was running low on battery, so he shut it down shortly after.

That quick shutdown likely limited the damage. He later messaged the real Pierre and suggested moving the conversation to Google Meet instead.

The person responded by saying he had become busy and asked to reschedule. That exchange raised suspicion and led Pey to realize the call was fraudulent.

He later warned users to trust nothing and verify everything, adding that AI has made scams far more convincing even for technically experienced people.

CZ and Crypto Community Highlight Rising AI Scam Threats

Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, reposted the warning and urged users to stay alert. His response was brief, but it pushed the incident to a wider crypto audience.

Community members also shared reports of similar attacks involving hacked Telegram accounts and fake Calendly links. In several cases, scammers posed as known industry contacts to arrange meetings.

The pattern often starts with a trusted profile sending a scheduling request. Victims then join a fake business call where malware installation follows.

These scams increasingly rely on deepfake video and cloned voice technology. That makes traditional visual verification far less reliable than before.

Security professionals across crypto continue advising users to confirm identities through separate official channels. Direct verification through known contacts remains the safest step.

They also warn against running terminal commands or software updates during unsolicited meetings. Even familiar faces can now be part of highly convincing fraud attempts.

The incident adds to a growing list of social engineering attacks targeting developers, founders, and investors. As AI tools improve, attackers are refining methods that exploit trust instead of technical vulnerabilities.

The post Cardano Foundation Deepfake Scam Targets Developer as CZ Issues Warning appeared first on Blockonomi.