YouTube is warning creators of a new phishing scam that attempts to lure victims with an artificially intelligent video featuring CEO Neal Mohan. According to a report published on Tuesday, the fake video was sent to users privately and claims that YouTube is making changes to its monetization policy in an attempt to steal their credentials.
“YouTube and its employees will never attempt to contact you or share information through a private video,” YouTube states. “If you are given private access to a video claiming to be from YouTube, the video is a phishing scam.”
In recent weeks, reports of scams similar to the one described on YouTube have surfaced on Reddit. One user reported receiving an email stating that an account called “Message for YouTube Creators” shared a private video with him and asked him to download a malicious file. Another said he had received a private video from a “Channel for Creators” asking him to agree to a new monetization policy on a fake DocuSign website. In both cases, the email came from the address no-reply@youtube.com.
“Many phishers are actively targeting creators, trying to find ways to impersonate YouTube by using the platform’s internal features to post links to malicious content,” YouTube adds. This type of scam is not entirely new, as one Reddit user spotted a fake Mohan video circulating in 2023. If you receive such a video, you can report it on the YouTube website.
