Real irony alert: When CBS Sunday Morning aired Steve Wozniak’s warning about crypto scams using fake imagery, they illustrated the problem with fake imagery of Wozniak himself—a Disney animatronic from EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth ride, as reported by AppleInsider. You can’t make this stuff up, but apparently, scammers sure can.
The Apple co-founder’s latest crusade against YouTube crypto scams just got an unexpected Disney twist, highlighting how easily even reputable news outlets can blur the line between real and artificial—exactly the problem Wozniak’s been fighting for years.
The Real Cost of Fake Wozniak Videos
Victims lose thousands while platforms struggle with accountability
Wozniak’s warnings aren’t just theoretical complaints. Jennifer Marion sent 0.9 Bitcoin—worth $59,000 at the time—to scammers who promised to double her investment using Wozniak’s manipulated likeness. She received nothing back except a harsh lesson in crypto fraud reality.
The scam format stays depressingly consistent: criminals repurpose old Wozniak interviews about Bitcoin, slap on a frame with a wallet address, and promise to magically double whatever cryptocurrency you send. His wife Janet Hill describes receiving emails from confused victims asking when their “doubled” money would arrive.
“We never got to YouTube. Our lawyer has gotten to their lawyer. That’s all,” Wozniak told CBS, capturing the frustrating reality of trying to combat platform-scale fraud through traditional legal channels.
Platform Responsibility vs. Legal Shields
Section 230 protections complicate consumer recourse against obvious fraud
YouTube’s response—or lack thereof—illustrates the broader tension between platform protections and consumer safety. Section 230 legal shields that protect platforms from liability for user content also complicate efforts to hold them accountable for hosting obvious scams targeting public figures.
Cybersecurity experts note that while content moderation at scale presents genuine challenges, the persistence of “send Bitcoin, get double back” schemes featuring public figures suggests current fraud detection systems need significant improvement. When obvious impersonation scams survive despite repeated complaints, the moderation-at-scale excuse starts wearing thin.
Crypto Scam Red Flags You Need to Know:
- Any “send crypto, get double back” promise is fraudulent—period
- Celebrity endorsement videos with suspicious frames or overlaid Bitcoin addresses
- Guaranteed cryptocurrency returns (legitimate investments never guarantee profits)
- Urgent language demanding immediate action or claiming limited-time offers
- Videos redirecting to external crypto wallet addresses
The Disney animatronic cameo adds an almost satirical layer to this serious consumer protection story. The EPCOT figure—originally installed in 1994 as a Jobs/Wozniak mashup, then updated in 2007 to look more Wozniak-esque—ironically became part of a news segment about distinguishing real from fake imagery.
Your ability to spot deepfakes and manipulated content becomes more crucial as AI tools democratize video editing. Digital forensics specialists recommend watching for:
- Inconsistent lighting
- Unnatural eye movements
- Audio sync issues
These serve as basic detection techniques. Wozniak’s high-profile campaign serves as both warning and wake-up call: if Apple’s co-founder can’t get fraudulent videos removed efficiently, what chance do regular consumers have when scammers target them?
The message remains crystal clear—any scheme promising to double your cryptocurrency is designed to double the scammer’s wallet, not yours.
Last modified: August 11, 2025
About the Author: Jeremy P.
