Ioan Gruffudd described discovering the AI-generated content as "distressing and disturbing"
Hollywood actor Ioan Gruffudd has warned fans of "explicit and disturbing" AI-generated content impersonating him online.
The 53-year-old star, from near Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, urged his followers not to send money to people using images and videos of his likeness, after the content was brought to his attention.
"A woman came to a convention I was recently attending and she was under the impression that she was in an extramarital relationship with me for over a year," he said in an Instagram post.
"She showed me hundreds of AI images and videos that someone claiming to be me had sent to her. The images were explicit and disturbing."
The actor said the woman had been targeted through a Facebook page dedicated to crime drama Elsbeth, in which Gruffudd played a musician named Angus.
Gruffudd, who rose to fame in the long-running Hornblower TV series, said a person behind the Facebook page had sent the woman "a cell number, and asked her to communicate via Telegram", an instant messaging app.
"'They began sending AI images and videos to 'prove' that it was me," Gruffudd added.
He said that if anyone believes they are speaking with him via social media pages that are not his official channels then "this is not me".
"I will never give out my cell number to anyone that I don't personally know.
"Please do not engage and never send money! I urge you to ignore and block all contact from anyone that claims to be me.
"Lastly, if you have been targeted by this person, please report them and their number to the police for investigation. I have done the same."
Ioan Gruffudd, seen with his wife Bianca, starred in Titanic and The Fantastic Four
Gruffudd is not the only celebrity to speak out about misleading AI technology.
Other celebrities who have shared concerns include Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Sir Tom Jones and Martin Lewis.
In January, Sir Tom shared a similar warning after he became aware of a number of social media accounts attempting to scam fans.
Sir Tom Jones shared a similar warning in January, after he became aware of a number of social media accounts attempting to scam fans
In a post shared to Instagram, his management wrote: "Regrettably, it has come to our attention that there is a large number of fake online profiles impersonating Sir Tom Jones and/or his team, who are attempting to scam fans and members of the public.
"Please be aware that Sir Tom Jones only has access to his verified (blue tick) Facebook/Instagram/X/YouTube and TikTok accounts. Sir Tom does not communicate to individuals directly or personally via his social channels.
"If a fake profile tries to chat to you privately, report and block them. This will NOT be Sir Tom Jones or his team.
"It is sad and disheartening to hear of these scammers attempting to trap and abuse vulnerable people, so please be careful and stay safe online."
