The foundation representing Spain's future queen has issued an urgent warning about a sophisticated fraud operation exploiting her image on social media. Scammers are using artificial intelligence to create convincing fake videos of Princess Leonor, the 20-year-old heir to the Spanish throne, to trick users into handing over money.
How the TikTok Fraud Operates
On the popular platform TikTok, fake profiles post AI-generated videos where a digitally created 'Princess Leonor' promises viewers large financial payouts, sometimes reaching thousands of dollars. To access this non-existent money, victims are first asked to pay a modest upfront 'fee', typically a few hundred dollars.
Once the initial payment is made, the fraudsters continue to demand more money under various pretexts before ultimately disappearing, leaving the victim out of pocket. An investigation by the Spanish newspaper El País, conducted in 2024, traced all the telephone numbers associated with the scam to the Dominican Republic. Some of these deceptive videos had amassed over a million views before being reported.
Official Statement from the Princess's Foundation
In a clear statement published on its website, the Princess of Asturias Foundation moved to debunk the scam's claims. The foundation explicitly stated that it does not run any programmes offering direct financial help, subsidies, lotteries, or monetary operations for individual citizens.
The announcement further clarified: "Equally, the Princess of Asturias doesn't offer financial help via the foundation and any message or profile that suggests the contrary is false." The foundation's primary role is to manage the prestigious Princess of Asturias Awards, which recognise cultural, scientific, and social achievement, not to provide personal grants.
Platform Response and Broader Context
Despite the fraudulent activity, which was first detected in December 2024, reports suggest TikTok's enforcement has been lacking. El País noted that its complaints about the identity theft were met with a standardised response from the platform, stating: "We have determined that the reported content is not in breach of our regulations."
This contradicts TikTok's own published community guidelines, which prohibit accounts that "cheat or manipulate" the platform and forbid behaviour involving "undercover operations to influence or to supplant identity."
Princess Leonor, the eldest daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, is currently in the final year of a three-year military training programme, a traditional preparation for her future role as commander-in-chief. If she ascends the throne, she will become Spain's first queen regnant since Isabella II, who was deposed in 1868.
This incident highlights the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes being weaponised for financial crime, exploiting the trust and profile of public figures. It serves as a stark reminder for social media users to be critically sceptical of unsolicited financial offers, even when they appear to come from a trusted or high-profile source.
