The barrier between what is real and what is fabricated has grown thin
No Brasil, criminosos utilizaram imagens geradas por inteligência artificial para simular cenas nunca ocorridas no programa Roda Viva, da TV Cultura, arrastando figuras públicas reais para dentro de uma fraude financeira inteiramente fictícia. A sofisticação do esquema — deepfakes convincentes, sites clonados, consultores falsos e temporizadores de urgência — revela até que ponto a tecnologia passou a servir à erosão da confiança coletiva. O que está em jogo não é apenas o dinheiro de cada vítima, mas a própria capacidade humana de distinguir o real do fabricado num mundo que se move depressa demais.
- Anúncios falsos circularam na plataforma X mostrando o CEO do BTG Pactual jogando água no rosto da jornalista Vera Magalhães — cenas geradas por IA que nunca aconteceram, usadas como isca para atrair vítimas.
- Um site clonado da TV Cultura apresentava Vera Magalhães endossando o aplicativo NeoCapital, prometendo retornos mensais de até R$22.000 por meio de uma suposta plataforma de inteligência artificial.
- Vítimas eram conduzidas por um funil preciso: formulário com dados pessoais e bancários, ligação de um 'consultor oficial' e um contador regressivo de 24 horas para forçar decisões impulsivas.
- Após o depósito mínimo de R$1.050, os golpistas exibiam extratos fabricados com rendimentos de R$24.000 mensais — enquanto o dinheiro real simplesmente desaparecia.
- A Fundação Padre Anchieta denunciou o uso indevido da marca e das imagens de seus profissionais, notificando plataformas digitais e sinalizando possíveis ações legais, mas o alcance dos anúncios frequentemente supera a velocidade das remoções.
Na plataforma X, uma série de anúncios começou a circular no Brasil com imagens que nunca existiram: Roberto Sallouti, CEO do BTG Pactual, jogando água no rosto da jornalista Vera Magalhães durante uma suposta cena tensa no Roda Viva. As imagens eram detalhadas e críveis. Eram também inteiramente fabricadas por inteligência artificial, construídas como porta de entrada para um esquema de fraude financeira.
Os criminosos montaram uma página falsa que imitava o site da TV Cultura com fidelidade visual suficiente para enganar quem navegasse sem desconfiança. Nesse ambiente clonado, Vera Magalhães aparecia recomendando um aplicativo chamado NeoCapital — descrito como um sistema de IA capaz de superar qualquer fundo de investimento convencional. O endosso nunca aconteceu. Os depoimentos eram inventados. Toda a estrutura existia para conduzir pessoas a uma armadilha financeira.
O roteiro do golpe era clássico, mas amplificado pela tecnologia. Quem clicava no anúncio era levado a um formulário pedindo dados pessoais e bancários. Em seguida, um suposto consultor ligava, pressionando pelo depósito mínimo de R$1.050. Um contador regressivo de 24 horas criava urgência artificial, projetado para suprimir a reflexão. Depois do depósito, as vítimas recebiam extratos falsos mostrando retornos mensais de até R$24.000. O dinheiro, na prática, simplesmente sumia.
O que distinguia esse esquema não era a novidade, mas o grau de refinamento. Deepfakes e clonagem de portais jornalísticos tornaram-se ferramentas corriqueiras no arsenal criminoso. A Fundação Padre Anchieta, mantenedora da TV Cultura, emitiu nota condenando o uso não autorizado de sua marca e das imagens de seus profissionais, informando que notifica plataformas digitais ao identificar publicações enganosas e que medidas legais podem ser adotadas. Mas quando as notificações chegam, os anúncios já alcançaram milhares de pessoas — e algumas delas já enviaram o dinheiro. O estrago, feito, é difícil de desfazer.
On the social media platform X, a series of ads began circulating in Brazil that told a story no one had ever seen. They showed Roberto Sallouti, the CEO of BTG Pactual, flinging water into the face of journalist Vera Magalhães during what appeared to be a tense moment on Roda Viva, the long-running public affairs program broadcast by TV Cultura. The images were vivid and specific. They were also entirely fabricated, created by artificial intelligence and deployed as bait in an investment scam.
The fraudsters behind the scheme had constructed a fake webpage that mimicked TV Cultura's actual site, complete with the visual language of legitimate journalism. On this cloned platform, Vera Magalhães appeared to endorse an investment application called NeoCapital, describing it as an artificial intelligence system capable of generating returns that exceeded traditional investment funds. The testimonials were invented. The endorsement never happened. The entire apparatus was designed to funnel people toward a financial trap.
The mechanics of the scam followed a well-worn script, but one increasingly augmented by digital deception. A person clicking on the fraudulent ad would be directed to a form requesting personal information: age, nationality, employment status, banking details. Then came requests for full name, email, and phone number. At that point, a supposed official consultant would call, urging the victim to deposit a minimum of 1,050 Brazilian reals to begin investing. The scammers deployed a countdown timer claiming the opportunity would expire in 24 hours, a pressure tactic designed to short-circuit careful thought.
Once victims made the initial deposit, they were shown fabricated account statements. The fraudsters claimed that people who had invested 1,050 reals were receiving monthly returns of up to 24,000 reals. None of these accounts existed. None of these returns were real. The money simply disappeared into the criminals' hands.
What made this particular scheme notable was not its novelty but its sophistication. Deepfakes and AI-generated imagery have become standard tools in the criminal toolkit. Fraudsters now routinely create videos in which celebrities, journalists, and business figures appear to promote nonexistent products or investments. The cloning of legitimate media outlets and financial institutions has become so common that it barely registers as noteworthy anymore. The barrier between what is real and what is fabricated has grown thin enough that ordinary people, moving quickly through their day, can easily step across it.
TV Cultura's parent organization, the Fundação Padre Anchieta, issued a statement condemning the unauthorized use of the broadcaster's name and the images of its staff in AI-manipulated content. The foundation said it notifies digital platforms whenever it identifies deceptive posts bearing its brand, requesting removal. It also indicated that legal action could follow if the violations continued. But by the time such notices reach the platforms, the ads have often already reached thousands of people. Some of them will have already sent money. Some will have already given up their banking information. The damage, once done, is difficult to undo.
Notable Quotes
Vera Magalhães appeared to endorse NeoCapital as an artificial intelligence system capable of generating returns exceeding traditional investment funds— Fabricated testimonial in the fraudulent webpage
TV Cultura repudiated the unauthorized use of the broadcaster's brand and its professionals' images in AI-manipulated content— Fundação Padre Anchieta statement
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does a scam like this work? The deepfake is obvious if you look closely.
Most people don't look closely. They see a familiar name, a trusted institution, a promise that feels plausible. The AI images don't have to be perfect—they just have to be good enough to pass a glance.
But why Roda Viva specifically? Why not just invent a fake news outlet?
Because Roda Viva has decades of credibility. It's serious journalism. If you can borrow that authority, you don't have to build it from scratch. The victim's guard is already lowered.
The 24-hour countdown—that's pure psychology.
Exactly. It prevents the moment when someone might call a friend, or search online, or think twice. Urgency collapses judgment.
What happens to someone who loses 1,050 reals this way?
They've lost money they probably couldn't afford to lose. But worse, they've given criminals their full identity and banking details. The financial damage can extend far beyond that initial deposit.
Can TV Cultura actually stop this?
They can pursue legal action, but the criminals are likely operating from jurisdictions where enforcement is weak. By the time a lawsuit moves, the scammers have already moved on to the next scheme.