A retiree from Loir-et-Cher lost 16,500 euros after falling victim to a “deepfake” scam using the image of TV host Eric Antoine. In December 2025, the septuagenarian was trapped by a fake trading site promoted through hacking his television set, highlighting the rise of scams involving fake celebrities.
Similar to Anne, scams involving fake celebrities seem to be never-ending. In recent months, many internet users have shared their testimonies, being victims of scams using the identity of a personality from either the small or big screen.
One retiree from Loir-et-Cher lost over 16,500 euros, as reported by La Nouvelle République. The resident of the town of Mer, near Chambord, was deceived by a fake Eric Antoine.
Victim of a trading site
According to the local newspaper, the retiree is a fan of the show “La France a Incroyable Talent” aired on M6, in which magician and comedian Eric Antoine participates.
In December 2025, while watching television on his set, the septuagenarian’s device was hacked. Subsequently, the scammers circulated a deepfake of Eric Antoine promoting a fraudulent trading site.
The victim then called the phone number provided by the fake Eric Antoine and ended up in contact with someone asking him to download an application. Unfortunately, the application allowed the scammers to remotely control the retiree’s mobile phone.
The retiree then deposited 16,500 euros on the trading site intending to surprise his wife before realizing he had been scammed.
