Case mendoza-retiree-messi-ai-scamDeepfake fraudArgentina
Mendoza retiree loses $24.5M pesos to crypto scam using AI-manipulated Messi and Scaloni video
A 70-year-old retiree from Las Heras, Mendoza, lost about 24.5 million pesos after a sponsored Facebook post imitating a La Nación article and a video of Lionel Messi manipulated with AI promoted a fake crypto investment platform called 'Stake Manerix 0.6'. The image of coach Lionel Scaloni was also used. Per local media, a judge ordered Ualá and Mercado Pago to suspend loan collections and return $8.2M pesos while the case proceeds.
MediumAttack using AIStatus: Under investigationVerified case file
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- Reported
- Oct 23, 2026
- Location
- Argentina
- Target
- Retired individual in Mendoza, Argentina
- Severity
- Medium
- Verification
- Reported by credible press or researchers
- Triggered by
- Unknown
- Actor type
- Criminal
- Sector
- Individuals & consumers
- Reported loss
- None reported
- CVE
- None
What happened
A 70-year-old retiree from Las Heras, Mendoza, lost about 24.5 million pesos after a sponsored Facebook post imitating a La Nación article and a video of Lionel Messi manipulated with AI promoted a fake crypto investment platform called 'Stake Manerix 0.6'. The image of coach Lionel Scaloni was also used. Per local media, a judge ordered Ualá and Mercado Pago to suspend loan collections and return $8.2M pesos while the case proceeds.
Impact: The retiree reportedly lost about 24 million Argentine pesos (La Gaceta report).
Who triggered it
Actor: Unknown
Attribution: Unknown scammers; the reports do not name a perpetrator.
Motive: Financial gain
How it happened
Attack vector: AI-generated image of Lionel Messi (and reportedly coach Scaloni) used to promote a fake lucrative investment or business offer.
Root cause: Victim trusted a convincing AI-generated celebrity endorsement of a fraudulent offer.
Timeline
- Reported by Diario Mendoza Today
Response
Unknown
Current status: Under investigation
Research warnings this case matches
- Seen in real incidents AI-made fakes fuel fraud and extortion · International AI Safety Report
- Seen in real incidents Malicious actors and misuse · MIT AI Risk Repository
Compared with published AI risk research from several institutes on the Research vs reality page.
Sources (open in a new tab)
- Diario Mendoza Today news.google.com
- La Gaceta lagaceta.com.ar
- iProUP iproup.com
Cite this case
Mendoza retiree loses $24.5M pesos to crypto scam using AI-manipulated Messi and Scaloni video. AI Threat Watch, case mendoza-retiree-messi-ai-scam, Oct 23, 2026. https://aithreat.io/cases/mendoza-retiree-messi-ai-scam/
Permanent link: https://aithreat.io/cases/mendoza-retiree-messi-ai-scam/
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