YouTube has issued a warning to content creators about a new phishing scam that uses an AI-generated video of its CEO, Neal Mohan.
The fraudulent video, which is being shared privately with users, falsely claims that YouTube is making changes to its monetization policy in an attempt to steal credentials. The company clarified in an announcement on Tuesday that it never contacts users or shares information through private videos and urged creators to stay vigilant against such scams.
Reports circulating on Reddit indicate that this scam has been active for weeks. Some users received emails from an account named “Notification for YouTube Creators,” claiming a private video had been shared with them, directing them to download a malicious file. Others reported receiving private videos from “Channel for Creators,” instructing them to agree to a fake monetization policy via a fraudulent DocuSign page. In both cases, the emails appeared to come from [email protected], adding a layer of credibility to the scam.
YouTube noted that phishing scams like this are not new, with scammers frequently impersonating the platform and exploiting its features to distribute malicious content. A similar deepfake video of Mohan was spotted circulating in 2023, demonstrating how cybercriminals continue to refine their tactics. Users who come across these fraudulent videos are encouraged to report them directly through YouTube’s website to prevent further exploitation.
