McAfee has released its 2025 edition of the ‘Most Dangerous Celebrity: Deepfake Deception List’, highlighting how cybercriminals are increasingly using the names and likenesses of public figures to mislead users online. Shah Rukh Khan tops this 12 months’s list as probably the most exploited personality, followed by Alia Bhatt and Elon Musk. Their images and voices are amongst probably the most steadily utilized in AI-driven deepfakes promoting false endorsements, giveaways and links to fraudulent web sites.
Shah Rukh Khan, Alia Bhatt lead 2025 Deepfake Risk list; McAfee reports Rs 34,500 average loss per victim
In accordance with the report, 90% of Indians have come across fake or AI-generated celebrity endorsements. Those that fell victim to such scams reported a median lack of Rs 34,500. The findings also reveal that deception is not any longer limited to mainstream actors or global figures. Around 60% of respondents say they’ve encountered deepfake content featuring influencers and digital creators, reflecting the rapid spread of manipulated media across platforms.
The report attributes the rising threat to India’s highly lively digital ecosystem. With 95% of users on WhatsApp, 94% on YouTube and 84% on Instagram, the country’s social media presence makes it a key goal for online scams that depend on manipulated celebrity content.
The study also notes that scammers now require as little as three seconds of an individual’s voice to create convincing audio deepfakes. These fabrications are commonly used to advertise fake skincare products, giveaways and cryptocurrency schemes, together with endorsements for gadgets and supplements.
McAfee India’s Top 10 ‘Most Dangerous Celebrities’ of 2025
- Shah Rukh Khan
- Alia Bhatt
- Elon Musk
- Priyanka Chopra Jonas
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- MrBeast
- Lionel Messi
- Taylor Swift
- Kim Kardashian
- Members of BTS
“Deepfakes have modified the sport for cybercriminals; they’re not hacking systems — they’re hacking human trust,” said Pratim Mukherjee, Senior Director of Engineering, McAfee. “India’s vibrant celebrity culture and large online engagement make the threat much more dangerous. Technology can now effortlessly mimic the voices, faces, and mannerisms of individuals we admire. In a rustic where thousands and thousands engage with celebrity and influencer content every day, such fakes can spread immediately. It’s becoming harder to inform what’s real and what’s not — making awareness, caution, and reliable protection tools more critical than ever.”
India is one of the vital socially engaged digital populations on this planet, with 95% using WhatsApp, 94% on YouTube and 84% on Instagram, and is very vulnerable to scams disguised as celebrity content. McAfee’s findings show that younger users are probably the most in danger: 62% of those aged 35–44 and 60% of 25–34-year-olds admitted to clicking on fake celebrity ads, in comparison with 53% amongst 18–24-year-olds. Scepticism increases with age, as only 46% of 45–54-year-olds and just 17% of those over 65 said that they had ever fallen for such scams.
Also Read: Chiranjeevi files police criticism over AI-generated obscene deepfake videos circulating online
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