Deepfake Sky News Anchors Advertised Illegal Casinos on the App Store — How the Scam Worked
Sky News journalists discovered a large-scale scam using deepfake technology to promote apps linked to illegal online casinos.
How the Scam Worked
Videos appeared on Facebook in which deepfake versions of well-known British TV anchors talked about a “profitable” mobile game.
One such video was viewed by over 250,000 users. In it, a fake version of Sky News anchor Matt Barbet, dubbed with an Australian accent, said:
“Important news for all iPhone owners — Apple CEO Tim Cook has launched an app that will let everyone make money.”
The screen showed a simulation of a Sky News breaking news ticker, but with pixelation and incorrect fonts.
Alongside the fake Matt Barbet and Tim Cook, viewers were “advertised” a mobile game called Heavenly Sphere.
What Was Hidden Behind the Heavenly Sphere App
At first glance, the game looked like a regular entertainment app with a 4+ rating and was available on the App Store. However, after installation, the app redirected users to illegal online casinos, which are banned in the UK.
One segment of the deepfake video showed a scene where “Olivia” supposedly wins £500,000 in a week. “How did you do it?” the deepfake Matt asked. The answer: “Very easy, I just downloaded the app and started playing.”
Who Was Behind the Deepfakes
The videos were created by editing real interviews, particularly a conversation between the real Barbet and a journalist about a lawsuit against Apple. Scammers used AI models to replace faces, overlay synchronized speech, and modify visuals.
“We believe the videos were created by merging real news footage with synchronized AI-generated video,” said Professor Siwei Lyu from the University at Buffalo. He pointed out unnatural mouth movements and strange changes in teeth in the video.
The Scale of the Scam
According to Meta’s ad library, thousands of similar deepfakes were created. They used the likenesses of journalists from around the world — including Sky News anchor Sarah-Jane Mee. Their faces and voices were used to promote dozens of identical “gaming” apps.
The fake videos were distributed through 36 different Facebook accounts. Targeted ads used “national” journalists to create a sense of trust among users.
“Journalists, especially TV anchors, are becoming deepfake targets. People trust them,” explained Jessica Barker, co-founder of Cygenta.
How Authorities Responded
Following the Sky News investigation, the UK Gambling Commission and Apple responded promptly:
- Fraudulent apps were removed from the App Store
- Associated online casino sites were blocked
What Users Should Know
The use of deepfakes for fraud is becoming increasingly common. Especially dangerous are cases where criminals exploit the trust placed in public figures.
Users should be cautious of suspicious videos and “too good to be true” offers, even if they feature a familiar face or voice.
Key Signs of Deepfakes:
| Sign | Description |
|---|---|
| Out-of-sync speech | Audio lags behind lip movements |
| Unnatural facial expressions | Changes in mouth shape and teeth |
| Suspicious text and visuals | Font errors, pixelation, sloppy graphics |
| Promises of quick money | Too good to be true |
Conclusion
The Sky News investigation showed how effectively scammers can use modern technology to deceive people.
Even experienced journalists became victims of deepfakes, unaware they were being used to promote illegal businesses.
Stay alert and avoid installing suspicious apps, even if they’re recommended by “familiar faces.”