Fake Russian Based Sites Promoting Fake News to the US, The Fake Bugatti Purchase

[Social Media]

 

A network of Russia-based websites, disguised as local American newspapers, has been disseminating fake stories in a sophisticated, AI-powered disinformation campaign targeting the US election. This BBC investigation reveals a key figure behind this operation is a former Florida police officer who moved to Moscow. 

 

A notable example of these fabricated stories involves Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine. The false report claimed she bought a rare Bugatti Tourbillon sports car for €4.5 million ($4.8 million) in Paris using American military aid money. The story, appearing on an obscure French website, was quickly debunked. Experts noted anomalies in the posted invoice, and Bugatti issued a denial, calling it "fake news." However, the falsehood had already gone viral, with pro-Russia, pro-Trump activist Jackson Hinkle spreading it to over 6.5 million people on X (formerly Twitter). In total, at least 12 million X users saw the story, demonstrating the operation's effectiveness in spreading disinformation.

 

 

This network, which BBC Verify first exposed last year, initially aimed to undermine Ukraine's government. Now, it focuses on influencing US voters and sowing distrust ahead of November's election. The investigation, conducted over six months and examining hundreds of articles across dozens of websites, shows that some fake stories have been shared by influencers and US Congress members. 

 

One significant fake story alleged that the FBI illegally wiretapped Donald Trump’s Florida resort, published on a website called The Houston Post, one of many sites with American-sounding names but run from Moscow. This falsehood played into Trump’s narrative of a biased legal system and a conspiracy against his campaign. Trump himself has accused the FBI of eavesdropping on his conversations. 

 

According to experts, this operation is part of a larger effort led from Moscow to spread disinformation during the US election campaign. While no hard evidence links these particular fake news websites directly to the Russian state, researchers note the operation's scale and sophistication resemble previous Kremlin-backed disinformation efforts. Chris Krebs, former director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, commented, “Russia will be involved in the US 2024 election, as will others,” highlighting the ongoing threat of foreign interference.

 

 

The BBC contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry and Russia’s US and UK embassies but received no response. They also attempted to contact Hinkle for comment. Since disinformation campaigns gained attention during the 2016 US election, operators have become more creative in spreading their content and making it appear credible. This operation uses AI to generate thousands of news articles for dozens of sites with American-sounding names like Houston Post, Chicago Crier, Boston Times, and DC Weekly. Many stories on these sites are not outright fakes but are based on real news, rewritten by AI to fit a conservative stance. These stories are attributed to fake journalists with made-up names and profile pictures taken from the internet, such as a photo of best-selling writer Judy Batalion used for multiple stories under the name "Jessica Devlin."

 

The operation's automation is evident in the sheer volume of content and its repetition across different websites, creating the illusion of legitimate news sources. Interspersed within this content are fake stories increasingly targeting American audiences. These stories often mix American and Ukrainian political issues, aiming to manipulate public perception.

 

Clement Briens, senior threat intelligence analyst at Recorded Future, noted the operation’s scale, with 120 websites registered over three days in May. Newsguard, a company tracking misinformation sites, counted at least 170 sites connected to the operation. McKenzie Sadeghi, Newsguard’s AI and foreign influence editor, observed the operation's significant growth in size and reach, with Russia regularly amplifying these narratives via state TV, officials, and influencers.

 

 

To make the fake stories more credible, operatives create YouTube videos featuring supposed “whistleblowers” or “independent journalists,” often using actors or AI-generated voices. These videos are cited in text stories on the fake newspaper websites and shared on social media, reaching both Russian influencers and Western audiences. For example, a story from DC Weekly about Ukrainian officials buying yachts with US military aid was repeated by US politicians, including Senator J.D. Vance and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.

 

 

John Mark Dougan, a former US Marine and police officer, is a key figure in this operation. After fleeing to Moscow in 2016 following an FBI raid, Dougan has been involved in spreading disinformation. Despite denying involvement with the websites, digital evidence links him to the operation. Dougan's activities seem partly motivated by revenge against American authorities.

 

The operation, initially focused on the war in Ukraine, has shifted to American and British politics, with false stories about US politics gaining prominence. Microsoft’s Clint Watts warned of the potential impact of this sophisticated disinformation campaign on the upcoming election, emphasizing the need to address this evolving threat.

 

 

Nina Jankowicz, head of the American Sunlight Project, noted the shift towards “information laundering,” where fake stories are recycled into the mainstream to obscure their source. With increasing efforts to spread stories about UK politics and the Paris Olympics, the operation shows no signs of slowing down. Dougan, hinting at bigger plans, stated, “Don’t worry, the game is being upped,” indicating the ongoing evolution of this disinformation campaign.

 

Credit: BBC 2024-07-04

 

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[Tug]

Quell surprise I hope a way can be found to make these criminals pay a heavy price 

[wombat]

But it was on the internet it must be true.

[spidermike007]

If we had any idea of the extent of the FSB sponsored cyber crime, hacking, fake news, disinformation, and malicious online operations, there would be quite an uproar. Likely the same applies to Iran, N. Korea and China. They have very, very bad intentions. 

[jayceenik]

56 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

If we had any idea of the extent of the FSB sponsored cyber crime, hacking, fake news, disinformation, and malicious online operations, there would be quite an uproar. Likely the same applies to Iran, N. Korea and China. They have very, very bad intentions. 

The West, led by Hegemon US and its sidekick the UK have only goood intentions. 

 

 

 

 

[Hakuna Matata]

https://www.politico.eu/article/fake-vladimir-putin-announces-russia-under-attack-ukraine-war/

 

‘Fake Putin’ announces Russia under attack as Ukraine goes on offensive

[Luuk Chaai]

Fake Russian Based Sites Promoting Fake News to the US

???    Sounds like the FBI and the CIA  !!!

[Tug]

Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if they are even on this site…..

[rudi49jr]

1 hour ago, Tug said:

Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if they are even on this site…..

At least two in this thread so far, and probably more to follow soon. The usual suspects….

[NativeBob]

any information from BBC is very susceptible. if they claim she didn't purchase that Bugati and call it "fake news" than yes indeed she did so, and they call it fake. 

el'Presidente Ze family got use to live in luxury life-style since his carrier as entertainer. Not a big deal - they all do. 

Why wouldn't she purchase just another car for her garage? 

[Bkk Brian]

18 minutes ago, NativeBob said:

any information from BBC is very susceptible. if they claim she didn't purchase that Bugati and call it "fake news" than yes indeed she did so, and they call it fake. 

el'Presidente Ze family got use to live in luxury life-style since his carrier as entertainer. Not a big deal - they all do. 

Why wouldn't she purchase just another car for her garage? 

The dealership has also denied it in a press release, you keep on believing the Russian propaganda though.

[spidermike007]

5 hours ago, jayceenik said:

The West, led by Hegemon US and its sidekick the UK have only goood intentions. 

 

 

 

 

I suppose there should be a scale of heinousness and if there were such a scale my guess is that Russia and China would be at the very top of countries with bad intentions over the past century or so. 

[candide]

1 hour ago, NativeBob said:

any information from BBC is very susceptible. if they claim she didn't purchase that Bugati and call it "fake news" than yes indeed she did so, and they call it fake. 

el'Presidente Ze family got use to live in luxury life-style since his carrier as entertainer. Not a big deal - they all do. 

Why wouldn't she purchase just another car for her garage? 

Thank you for illustrating the spread of Russian fake news! 😂

[NativeBob]

13 minutes ago, candide said:

Thank you for illustrating the spread of Russian fake news! 😂

You are very welcome!
Since some UA old woman hit and destroyed RU drone with can of marinated tomatoes from her window I don't really trust anything that came from fake news BBC, and if it on Youtube - than obviously is load of <deleted>

My point - who cares? UA turned into biggest laundromat in the World, Bugati-no-Bugati >>> who cares?

[Bkk Brian]

31 minutes ago, NativeBob said:

You are very welcome!
Since some UA old woman hit and destroyed RU drone with can of marinated tomatoes from her window I don't really trust anything that came from fake news BBC, and if it on Youtube - than obviously is load of <deleted>

My point - who cares? UA turned into biggest laundromat in the World, Bugati-no-Bugati >>> who cares?

You obviously care and that's a no to the Bugati

[Chomper Higgot]

32 minutes ago, NativeBob said:

You are very welcome!
Since some UA old woman hit and destroyed RU drone with can of marinated tomatoes from her window I don't really trust anything that came from fake news BBC, and if it on Youtube - than obviously is load of <deleted>

My point - who cares? UA turned into biggest laundromat in the World, Bugati-no-Bugati >>> who cares?

Ask yourself, who wants you not to care and why.