Maxpread Technologies deploys deepfake CEO to scam investors

Maxpread Technologies' use of an AI-generated CEO to manipulate investors into believing the company was legitimate and trustworthy prompted a US regulator to issue (pdf) a desist and refrain order against the entity and its founder 'Jan Gregory Cerato'.

The video, which was created using AI video generation tool Synthesia aused to launch the company, was fronted by 'Michael Vanes'. 

However, according to the US Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, Vanes does not exist and that Maxpread’s real CEO is actually Jan Gregory, who the company had called its chief marketing officer and corporate brand manager. 

Gregory informed investors he was 'relinquishing his position' at Maxpread in May 2023, saying he had 'witnessed a series of mismanagement of people’s funds within this organization.' 

Maxpread is allegedly the latest in a series of scams involving Jan Gregory, whose real name is Jan Strzepka.