--- title: "Ferrari Thwarted an AI Deepfake Scammer Posing as Its CEO With an Age-Old Trick" description: "The scammer called a Ferrari executive, using an AI deepfake voice impersonation of Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna. But the exec was suspicious." date: "2024-07-29" modified: "2024-07-29" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/ferrari-thwarted-an-ai-deepfake-scammer-posing-as-its-ceo-with-an-age-old-trick" categories: - "Ferrari News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Ferrari" - "Supercar" --- # Ferrari Thwarted an AI Deepfake Scammer Posing as Its CEO With an Age-Old Trick ![Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna at F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.]() *\Song Haiyuan/MB Media/Getty Images\* Like a scene out of a 1980s sci-fi movie, a deepfake scammer who tried to bamboozle [Ferrari]() last week was thwarted by the simplest of all imposter tests: the personal question. There are countless movies where the villain is somehow able to impersonate a protagonist and, inevitably, there's a moment when another good guy has to tell them apart. To do so, our hero almost always asks a personal question—one that only the *real* protagonist would know. It never fails. And that's exactly what one Ferrari executive did when a [scammer]() messaged them posing as the company's CEO. According to *[Bloomberg]()*, the scammer reached out to a Ferrari exec through WhatsApp pretending to be Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna. The scammer reportedly asked “Hey, did you hear about the big acquisition we're planning? I could need your help." While the WhatsApp number and photo were different than the real Vigna's, the exec seemingly kept the conversation going, as the messages continued. ![]() *Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna, center, poses with Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 drivers Charles Leclerc, left, and Carlos Sainz. *Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Ferrari** The scammer kicked things up a notch when they called the exec, using AI deepfake technology to mimic Vigna's voice and even his southern Italian accent. According to the Ferrari exec, the deepfake accent was nearly perfect. However, the exec couldn't shake the feeling that something fishy was going on, so they told the scammer that they needed to verify the caller's identity. To do this, they asked what book Vigna recently recommended to them. The title was "Decalogue of Complexity: Acting, Learning and Adapting in the Incessant Becoming of the World" by Alberto Felice De Toni. Of course, the scammer didn't know that—so they promptly hung up. Following the exec's sleuth-like questioning, Ferrari opened an internal investigation. What was the scammer after? Money, of course. Apparently, the fake Benedetto Vigna wanted to discuss a "China-related deal" that supposedly required a currency-hedge transaction. That's what tipped the unnamed executive off, prompting the book question. This type of corporate deepfake scam seems to be getting popular, as a company in Hong Kong was just tricked into sending $25 million to a scammer after an employee was duped with similar tactics. Thankfully, due to the Ferrari exec's quick thinking, they were able to save the Italian supercar maker from both a massive financial loss as well as worldwide embarrassment. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()