Since early July, a deep fake video created using AI technology depicting Cristiano Ronaldo (C Ronaldo) has been widely circulated on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. In the video, the fake C Ronaldo claims, "If you invest all your money into USWR by the end of July, you'll be very happy," and directs viewers to a fake website; C Ronaldo has never made such statements.
Source of the Deep Fake Video: An interview with La Vanguardia on July 3, where C Ronaldo praises Modrić as a "football legend"
(Source: Perma)
According to AFP investigation, the original footage of the deep fake video comes from the Spanish news website La Vanguardia, filmed on July 3, 2026, during a mixed interview area after Portugal's 2-1 victory over Croatia. In the real footage, C Ronaldo praises Croatia captain and former Real Madrid teammate Modrić as a "football legend" and wishes him good luck; the content has nothing to do with any investment or financial transactions.
The scammers retained the video footage and replaced the original audio with AI-generated synthetic speech, producing a fake version that appears to show C Ronaldo endorsing a cryptocurrency.
AFP: Hiya.com detection results indicate the audio "most likely generated by AI"
According to AFP, reporters used the Hiya.com voice clone detector within the InVID verification plugin to analyze the audio of both versions of the fake video. The detection results show that the audio "most likely was produced by artificial intelligence."
AFP notes that in both versions of the video, C Ronaldo's face and the surrounding characters are identical, with only the audio replaced, consistent with typical deep fake characteristics. On July 4, someone attempted to package this video as "exclusive news" for sale on Instagram, and it was subsequently reposted multiple times across various social platforms.
Scammers choose the name "Water Resources Reserve" to create a credible illusion, leveraging C Ronaldo's ownership of bottled water brand shares
According to reports, the scammers named the token USWR, claiming it is based on ownership of "American Water Resources Reserve." This naming deliberately exploits C Ronaldo's business background, as he owns shares in the high-end bottled water brand Maravilha Décimal, making it easier for fans familiar with his business dealings to believe the false claims.
The report also states that C Ronaldo is one of the most imitated athletes online; any fake content using his photos or videos can spread rapidly. USWR's statement claims the token is based on the "American Water Resources Reserve," and C Ronaldo has never participated in or endorsed the project in any form.
Real-world legal cases involving footballers and cryptocurrency disputes: Barcelona court investigates six former Sevilla players in the Shirtum case
According to Cryptopolitan's May report, a court in Barcelona is investigating six former Sevilla players related to the Shirtum crypto project; involved players include Ivan Rakitić and Papu Gómez. Spanish investors report potential losses exceeding €24 million.
This real case illustrates that the association between footballers' names and crypto projects is not limited to deep fake scams but also involves genuine legal disputes. Security experts advise investors to verify any celebrity-endorsed crypto projects through official channels certified by the athletes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the video of C Ronaldo endorsing USWR tokens real?
According to AFP, the video is a deep fake; the original footage is from La Vanguardia's interview on July 3, 2026, where C Ronaldo praises Modrić and makes no investment recommendations. AFP's analysis with Hiya.com voice detection tools indicates the audio "most likely was generated by AI."
Why did scammers choose "Water Resources Reserve" as the token name?
Reports state that C Ronaldo owns shares in the high-end bottled water brand Maravilha Décimal. The scammers deliberately used the concept of "water resources reserve" to make the story more credible to fans familiar with his business background, thereby lowering victims' defenses.
How to identify AI deep fake celebrity endorsement videos?
Security experts recommend verifying any celebrity crypto endorsement through official social media accounts verified by the athlete or celebrity before trusting the information. Be especially cautious of high-pressure sales language like "invest every penny, guaranteed returns by the end of the month." AI voice detection tools like Hiya.com can help determine if the audio is AI-generated.
