MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Can you spot the difference between the two pictures above?<\/p>\n
The left<\/a> is a screenshot of real Missouri pastor Alan Beauchamp addressing his congregation after his social media accounts were compromised in July 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cMy Facebook and Instagram have been hacked,\u201d he told his followers.<\/p>\n The right<\/a> is a screenshot of a fake video of Beauchamp in the exact same outfit encouraging his congregation to invest in cryptocurrency.<\/p>\n \u201cHello everyone,\u201d the artificial video says in a British accent. \u201cI hope you\u2019re doing well. I wanted to take a moment to address some concerns and clear up any confusion regarding my recent posts about cryptocurrency.\u201d<\/p>\n The Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South has not received reports of scammers targeting local pastors with artificial intelligence \u201cdeepfakes.\u201d<\/p>\n However, BBB spokesman Daniel Irwin told FOX13 there have been plenty of impersonators using social media and text messages.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only targeting pastors, but really targeting their congregation,\u201d Daniel Irwin said. \u201cAsk yourself: Would my pastor really ask me to go get gift cards? Then try to verify the best that you can. Ask questions. Ask someone else. Call the church office.\u201d<\/p>\n