Bank of England warns of AI deepfake scams using Bailey video
TL;DR:
- The Bank of England has warned the public over scams after a fake video appeared to show Governor Andrew Bailey brawling with Reform UK’s Nigel Farage.
- The fabricated footage linked to a fake BBC News page promoting a trading scheme claiming to turn £250 into £1m in 11 weeks.
- Farage confirmed the “bizarre AI videos” were fake; the Bank says impersonation scams are on the rise.
The Bank of England urged the public to be alert for scams after fake AI-generated video and images circulated on X purporting to show Governor Andrew Bailey in a physical fight with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on a television set.
Impersonation scams on the rise
The images linked through to a counterfeit BBC News article promoting a financial trading scheme that claimed to turn £250 into £1m within 11 weeks. “Unfortunately, fake adverts impersonating the Bank of England and other central banks are on the rise. These scams are designed to criminally exploit the public, especially the vulnerable,” Bailey said. Farage distanced himself from the clips, posting: “Whilst Andrew Bailey and I have our disagreements, I would never take it that far!”
One fabricated image showed Farage kicking Bailey while on the ground; another showed him pulling a gun in a scene styled to look like the BBC’s Question Time. In reality, the pair’s disagreements have centred on the Bank’s bond sales and its rate-setting committee, not fisticuffs.
The warning adds a high-profile name to Britain’s growing AI-fraud problem, days after insurer Aviva reported record fraud detection as AI-enabled scams proliferate.
Looking forward
Deepfaked authority figures are a fast-rising threat for UK consumers and the institutions impersonated. With watermarking and platform takedowns lagging behind generation tools, the burden still falls on public scepticism — and the Bank’s blunt advice is a reminder that a convincing video of a public figure is no longer proof of anything.