YouTube is sounding the alarm about a phishing scam targeting its content creators. This scheme involves an AI-generated video of CEO Neal Mohan circulating among users, claiming changes to monetization policies. It’s a clever ruse to trick unsuspecting creators into sharing their credentials.
According to YouTube’s announcement earlier this week, “YouTube and its employees will never attempt to contact you or share information through a private video.” If you receive such a video claiming to be from the platform, it’s best to steer clear.
The warning comes amidst reports on Reddit about similar scams where users received emails purporting to come from YouTube accounts like “Notification for YouTube Creators.” These emails often instruct recipients to download harmful files or agree to fictitious policy changes on dubious sites disguised as trusted platforms like DocuSign.
YouTube emphasizes that many scammers are targeting creators by pretending to be the platform itself and using its features to distribute malicious content. This isn’t the first time such scams have surfaced; there was even a deepfake of Mohan making rounds back in 2023. If you encounter one of these fraudulent videos, you can report it on YouTube’s website.
