Basri Caneri 
Chinese authorities have announced that scammers posing as DeepSeek developers have been luring users with fake investment opportunities, while fake DeepSeek apps containing malware are also spreading. Targeting crypto investors, these scammers have created a large-scale fraud network through fabricated cryptocurrencies, fake educational programs, and malware.
DeepSeek’s Popularity Has Targeted Scammers
DeepSeek attracted a lot of attention in January when it unveiled an AI model that claimed to compete with OpenAI. However, this popularity has also turned into an opportunity for scammers looking to lure investors.
Fraudsters posing as DeepSeek developers lured investors by promoting their project as a “high-end AI-powered investment opportunity ”. The scammers, who raised funds under the name of crowdfunding, disappeared after receiving the money.
According to authorities, victims thought they were part of a system that would earn them 10,000 yuan ($1,373) a month. But investors lost their funds and their personal data was compromised.
Fake Tutorials and DeepSeekCoin Scam
Scammers used various deceptive methods to attract investors:
- Fake Training Programs: Users were sold a guide to writing viral content for 39.9 yuan ($5.5). However, only 4 pages of the document contained relevant information, while the rest consisted of content culled from the internet, accessible to anyone.
- Monetization Boot Camps: Fraudsters offered courses for 299 to 399 yuan ($41 to $55) under the name “monetization training.” However, the courses turned out to have no real value.
- DeepSeekCoin Scam: They launched a fake token called DeepSeekCoin, spreading the lie that DeepSeek is an official cryptocurrency. By presenting this fake token as an investment opportunity, the scammers caused users to lose all their funds.
The DeepSeek team announced that it is staying away from these scams and has not launched any cryptocurrency projects. They also warned investors, emphasizing that they only communicate through their official Twitter account.
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