Gareth Wyn Jones, the beloved BBC presenter known as the nation's favourite farmer, has become the latest victim of a sophisticated and frightening deepfake sextortion plot. The blackmailers demanded a staggering £2,000 from the television personality, threatening to release an AI-generated fake video of a sexual nature.
The Terrifying Blackmail Demand
The 58-year-old star of The Family Farm was targeted by criminals who sent him a fabricated video clip. They claimed it showed him with a woman, a scenario Jones firmly states is completely false and generated by artificial intelligence. The subsequent threat was direct and menacing. The blackmailer told Jones: "See, you have to pay me £2,000 or I will log into your Facebook account and post about your sex video with me and pictures. I will also hack your phone number and call your wife and show her, and I will also post it on social media."
Jones, a hill farmer from Llanfairfechan in north Wales, described the experience as "very scary". Despite the intimidation, he refused to cave in to the demands. Instead of paying, the father of three threatened the perpetrators with legal action. He believes his high profile as an influencer with around two million social media followers made him a target for this type of extortion.
How the Elaborate Scam Unfolded
The elaborate scheme reportedly began in a deceptively innocent manner. Jones was initially contacted online by someone claiming to sell goats for just £5. After this first contact, the account's profile picture later changed to that of a woman. It was then that the blackmail attempt escalated, with the criminals sending the unconvincing AI clip in a bid to panic him into handing over cash.
"The whole thing was obviously AI generated," Jones stated, reassuring the public that no such real footage exists. He has since been contacted by other individuals who have faced similar threats, confirming he is not an isolated case. This prompted him to issue a stark warning on his own Facebook page to alert his followers.
A Warning to Others and a Call for Resilience
By speaking out, Gareth Wyn Jones aims to shed light on this disturbing new trend in cybercrime and prevent others from falling victim. He encouraged people to stay strong if confronted with similar threats, admitting he felt he "might have caved in" had he been less resolute. His decision to publicly defy the blackmailers and report the crime serves as a powerful example.
The incident highlights the dangerous new frontier for fraudsters, who are weaponising accessible AI technology to create convincing forgeries for extortion. It underscores the importance of:
- Remaining calm and not engaging with blackmailers.
- Never paying the demanded ransom, as it does not guarantee safety.
- Reporting the crime immediately to the relevant authorities.
- Raising awareness so the public can recognise these scams.
Jones's defiant stance sends a clear message to criminals that such intimidation will not succeed, while his warning helps arm the public against this invasive and alarming form of digital crime.
