Pando’s imagery used in fraudulent phishing crypto-scheme

Location: Bolivia, La Paz
Date: June 26, 2024

Women Press Freedom unequivocally condemns the recent cyber-attacks and fraudulent advertisements targeting renowned Bolivian journalist Amalia Pando. These actions represent not only a severe violation of her personal and professional security but also a direct assault on press freedom and journalistic integrity. The hacking of Pando's official website on June 22, 2024, and the subsequent fraudulent advertisements falsely linking her to the "Nearest Edge" cryptocurrency platform, are clear attempts to discredit her work and intimidate her. These acts are part of a broader pattern of harassment against journalists who dare to speak truth to power. We stand in solidarity with Amalia Pando and call on the Bolivian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into these attacks and hold those responsible accountable. The use of misinformation and cyber-attacks to silence journalists is a dangerous trend that undermines the democratic principles of free speech and a free press.

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In a disturbing series of events, renowned Bolivian journalist Amalia Pando has been targeted in cyber attacks and fraudulent advertisements, severely impacting her professional reputation and personal security.

On June 22, 2024, Pando's official website, amaliapando.com, was hacked and replaced with images of armed soldiers. This cyber attack has heightened Pando’s sense of intimidation and prompted her to seek protection from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights against the Bolivian government's accusations linking her to the so-called "cartel of lies." Efforts are underway by her digital team to restore the site and secure its content.

On June 24, 2024, EL DEBER reported the misuse of its logo in fraudulent advertisements. These ads falsely claimed that the Central Bank of Bolivia was suing Pando for her alleged endorsement of a cryptocurrency platform called "Nearest Edge." This misinformation has also falsely implicated other journalists, such as Carlos Valverde and Raúl Peñaranda.

On June 26, 2024, a fabricated press release supposedly from Los Tiempos, a respected newspaper in Cochabamba, falsely reported that the Central Bank of Bolivia had sued Pando for promoting the "Nearest Edge" platform. This fraudulent information included a fictitious interview between Pando and Valverde, designed to mislead the public into believing in lucrative financial gains through cryptocurrency investments. Los Tiempos’ editor-in-chief, Fernando Avendaño, confirmed the data did not exist in their databases or on official portals.

The "Nearest Edge" website, flagged by Virus Total as a phishing site, poses significant risks by soliciting personal information under false pretenses. Pando has strongly denied any association with the platform and urged the public to ignore these misleading advertisements.

A legal analysis by the National Press Association (ANP) indicated that these actions constitute computer crimes under articles 363 bis and 363 ter of the Penal Code, punishable by imprisonment of one to five years. These crimes involve the manipulation of computer data to obtain undue benefits, causing financial harm to third parties.

Women Press Freedom has documented a troubling rise in the use of journalists' images and deepfakes in cryptocurrency scams, highlighting several alarming cases. 

On April 3, 2024, AI-generated images of TV 2 host Divya Das were illicitly used to promote fake news articles, deceiving individuals into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. These misleading articles proliferated primarily on Facebook and Instagram, both owned by Meta. 

Earlier, on October 30, 2023, VOA’s Russian Service journalist Ksenia Turkova had AI-generated content convincingly mimicking her voice and appearance to present a bogus news segment on cryptocurrency. 

Similarly, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) had to issue a clarification on November 14, 2023, after their anchors Bongiwe Zwane and Francis Herd were impersonated in deepfake videos promoting a scam. One video featuring Herd gained over 123,000 views on YouTube since its release on November 3. These instances underscore a growing tactic in the exploitation of journalistic credibility to lend false legitimacy to fraudulent schemes.

Women Press Freedom stands resolutely with Amalia Pando and all journalists facing similar threats. We urge law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate these cyber attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice. The manipulation of computer data to harm journalists and the public must be met with stringent legal consequences. Companies like Meta must take responsibility for the content disseminated on their platforms. We call on these companies to improve their content moderation policies and swiftly remove harmful and misleading content, including deepfakes and fraudulent advertisements. We further urge international and national bodies to provide support and protection for journalists facing cyber threats and other forms of intimidation. This includes legal aid, mental health support, and safe channels for reporting threats.

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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