Summary:
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The Scam Attempt: Earlier this month, Ferrari executives were targeted by a deepfake scam involving WhatsApp messages and a phone call from someone impersonating Ferrari’s CEO, Benedetto Vigna. The scammer used a different number but included a profile picture of Vigna and requested urgent help with a classified acquisition.
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Suspicious Signs: The scammer’s messages and call, which mimicked Vigna’s voice and accent, asked the executive to sign an NDA and execute an unspecified currency hedge transaction. The executive noticed mechanical intonations in the voice and found the money request suspicious.
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The Key Question: To verify the CEO’s identity, the executive asked about a book Vigna had recommended recently. The scammer failed to answer correctly and ended the call abruptly, revealing the scam attempt and protecting Ferrari from potential fraud.
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