How deepfake ads using Elon Musk, Johann Rupert helped steal $61.5 million from South African investors

South Africa's Financial Sector Conduct Authority has fined online trading platform Banxso R2 billion ($123 million) and handed its four directors 30-year industry bans after a year-long investigation concluded the company used deepfake advertisements featuring billionaires Johann Rupert and Elon Musk to steal approximately R1 billion ($61.5 million) from South African investors.

The FSCA detailed the scheme in its 2026 Regulatory Actions report, describing one of the most significant enforcement actions against digitally enabled financial fraud in South African history.

The deepfake advertisements showed Rupert and Musk, two of the most recognizable business figures in the world, falsely promising investors profits of up to R300,000 ($18,450) a month from an initial investment of R4,700 ($289). The offering was branded as "Immediate Matrix." Individuals who responded to the advertisements were systematically redirected to Banxso representatives and encouraged to trade primarily in contracts for difference, complex high-risk derivative instruments the FSCA regards as unsuitable for most retail investors.

Banxso and its representatives have consistently denied being behind the advertisements, claiming the firm was itself a victim of hacking. The FSCA launched its investigation in March 2024 after receiving information about the deepfake campaign and concluded that Banxso was directly or indirectly involved in, or at minimum materially benefited from, the dissemination of the deceptive material.

The investigation found that misleading information, including promises of unrealistic returns, was provided to prospective clients to undermine their ability to make informed decisions. Client funds were not placed with legitimate liquidity providers but were instead controlled internally by Banxso, commingled, transferred between non-designated accounts and rendered difficult to trace. The FSCA found that client funds were misappropriated and used for personal and business expenses.

The enforcement actions that followed reflected what the FSCA described as the scale, seriousness and systemic nature of the misconduct. Banxso owner Harel Adam Sekler, Warwick David Sneider, Manuel de Andrade and Mohammed Bux each received 30-year debarments. Henry James Simpson received a 10-year debarment. The R2 billion ($123 million) fine was imposed on Banxso, Sekler and Sneider jointly, with additional fines of R16 million ($984,000) on Banxso, R20 million ($1.23 million) on De Andrade, R10 million ($615,000) on Bux and R5 million ($307,500) on Simpson. Banxso's financial services provider license was withdrawn.

The FSCA has referred its findings and supporting evidence to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, to support potential criminal proceedings.

The legal battle is far from over. In September 2025, Banxso and its key individuals applied to the Financial Services Tribunal for reconsideration of the license withdrawal. The Tribunal dismissed the applications in December. In February 2026, the five Banxso representatives lodged fresh applications for reconsideration of the debarments and administrative penalties. That matter remains pending.

In the meantime, the Western Cape High Court ruled that Banxso's business model was illegal, triggering liquidation proceedings. Those proceedings are currently stalled following a legal challenge by Flamingo Clearing House, a company also owned by Sekler that served as Banxso's CFD liquidity provider and was identified as a key player in the scheme.

The case represents the clearest illustration yet of how artificial intelligence-generated deepfake technology is being weaponized in South Africa's financial markets, using the faces and reputations of the country's most prominent billionaires to manufacture credibility for fraudulent investment offerings.