Sextortion: The Darkest Deepfake Scams, How to Protect Yourself and Laurie Segall's Hunt for “Mr. Deepfakes”

Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin

Money News Network

Education, Self-improvement, Business

4.4 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 3 June 2025

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the U.S., the cost of cybercrime in 2025 is estimated to hit $639.2 billion— up from $452.3 billion in 2024—an alarming surge fueled in large part by advancements in AI. Today, Nicole sits down with tech journalist Laurie Segall to uncover one of the darkest AI-driven scams: a disturbing scheme where scammers generate fake nude images to extort their victims. In this conversation, Laurie breaks down the most common deepfake crimes and scams, how to spot them, and how to protect yourself. She also shares the jaw-dropping story of her investigation into a shadowy figure known as “Mr. Deepfakes,” a man she describes as one of the most dangerous people on the internet, and what happened when she tracked him down and confronted him face-to-face. Nicole and Laurie zoom out to ask even bigger questions: What does this mean for women, for democracy, and for the future of AI? Spoiler alert: we are still very much in the Wild West. Follow Laurie’s work, and her investigation into Mr. Deepfakes here.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Imagine if you had a co-host in your life, you know, someone who could help manage your every day and do the things that you don't have time for.
0:07.1	Well, unfortunately, that's not something we can opt into in life, but it is something you can opt into as an Airbnb host.
0:13.9	If you find yourself away for a while, like I do, maybe for work, a long trip, or a big life adventure, a local co-host can help you manage everything.
0:23.2	From guest communications to check in, to making sure your place stays in tip-top shape,
0:28.5	they have got you covered. These are trusted locals who know your area inside and out,
0:33.1	giving your guests a warm welcome while you focus on your own starring role, whatever that might be.
0:38.9	You know that I love how hosting on Airbnb helps you monetize your home, an asset that you
0:43.3	already have. That is a holy grail. And as a longtime fan of Airbnb, I have been telling everyone
0:49.5	I know that they should be hosting too. But some of my busiest friends have been overwhelmed by this
0:54.6	whole idea of hosting. But thanks to the new co-host offering, they have finally signed up.
0:59.6	So if you've got a secondary property or an extended trip coming up and you need a little help
1:03.8	hosting while you're away, you can hire a co-host to do the work for you. Find a co-host at
1:08.6	Airbnb.com slash host.
1:18.0	I'm Nicole Lapin, the only financial expert you don't need a dictionary to understand. It's time for some money rehab.
1:26.2	Today I'm joined by one of the bravest voices in tech journalism, Lori Siegel.
1:31.3	And as you're about to hear, I've known her for about 100 years.
1:34.5	But you know her too.
1:35.4	You've seen her on CNN, 60 Minutes.
1:37.5	And if you've been following her reporting over the last few years, you've probably found yourself both captivated and terrified.
1:43.9	Lori's latest work
1:44.8	uncovers one of the darkest corners of the internet, deep fakes, specifically the dangers
1:49.9	of AI-generated images of real people in fake sexual acts. In our conversation, she explains
	...

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