Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Colacu appears in an edited video in which he appears to be urging people to invest in Hidroelectrica. Fake images are flagged as sponsored content on Facebook. The video of the Romanian prime minister comes in the context of the fact that the ministers of transport and energy have also fallen victim to such practices and notified the authorities because their image is being used to deceive.

A modified video showing Marcel Cholaku promoting Hidroelectrica’s services was posted on at least two different Facebook accounts. Both accounts have sponsored content to reach as many people as possible.

“Dear Romanians, I am pleased to inform you that since the beginning of the new year, the state-owned energy company Hidroelectrica has opened investment opportunities for Romanian citizens (…). The payment of profit is guaranteed by the state,” Marcel Čolaku seems to say in the video.

The Prime Minister of Romania, Marcel Cholaku, became a victim of a deepfake. PHOTO: Photo from Facebook

Hidroelectrica’s reaction to the deepfake video

Hidroelectrica representatives advise to get information only from “official, serious and reliable sources: company website, BVB website, specialized press, etc.”, in the context of the appearance of such edited videos.

• “If the promised potential earnings seem unreasonably lucrative, you are most likely dealing with an attempted scam. Do not upload your personal details or banking information to online platforms that promise such profits.

• Report false information you come across on online platforms. Company representatives did not encourage and do not encourage through public statements the use of this or that trading platform.

• Don’t be misled by the “quotes” used in this regard, which are associated with different names. We bring to your attention that this is unrealistic,” Hydroelectricity also added.

Grindianu and Burduja reported similar cases to the authorities

Transport Minister Sorin Grindeanu announced on Tuesday that he had notified the authorities after redacted photos of him purporting to sell shares in ENEL surfaced online.

“Today I notified the competent authorities to identify and punish according to the law those who use my image to promote the fictitious sale of the company’s shares,” Grindianu wrote on Facebook.

And on January 22, the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja, filed a criminal case with the Prosecutor’s Office at the High Court of Cassation for an attempted deepfake, with the help of which they tried to deceive citizens, and the investment scheme of the ENEL company also did not exist.

Read also:

• Another case of deepfake with a Romanian minister / Sorin Grindeanu says he informed “authorized institutions”

• The deepfake case involving a Romanian minister and an energy company / A criminal case was filed