Ai Deepfake Scams: Celebrities Unknowingly Endorsing Fake Supplements?

AI Scammers Target Celebrities to Push Fake Supplements

QUINCY (WGEM) - Hold onto your hats, folks! Scammers have found a new trick up their sleeves using the latest in artificial intelligence. They're creating shockingly realistic deepfake videos of our favorite celebrities and medical professionals, all to peddle a weight loss supplement called LipoMax on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is sounding the alarm, having received over 150 reports about LipoMax just in recent months. One unfortunate incident involved an Illinois resident who was duped out of more than $400 after watching a fake video featuring Oprah Winfrey seemingly endorsing the product.

How to Spot a Fake Endorsement

Don O’Brien, the regional director of the Quincy BBB, has some sage advice for consumers. He says, "If you see something that's online of your favorite celebrity or athlete or actor or whatever it might be, go to their webpage or go to their social medias to see if they're promoting it as well." This simple cross-check could save you from falling for a scam.

"I'm going to pick Taylor Swift. Let's say Taylor Swift's name is on something. Well, go to Taylor Swift's pages, because if she is also promoting this thing on her actual true social media, then you know it is legitimate," he advises.

Watch Out for Red Flags

The BBB is also urging everyone to keep a keen eye out for several red flags when browsing for weight loss products online. Be wary of miracle claims promising drastic weight loss without the need for diet or exercise. Also, be cautious of those tempting 'free trial' offers that might sneakily lock you into expensive monthly subscriptions. Before buying, make sure to verify the supplement's ingredients through the FDA.

With AI voice-cloning and video technology becoming more convincing than ever, spotting fake ads is getting trickier. The BBB advises closing out of any online ad that pressures you to buy quickly or sends you to a 'health coach' demanding more cash.

Been Targeted? Report It!

If you think you've been targeted by a deepfake scam or any other scam, the BBB encourages you to report it using their Scam Tracker. You can also find more guidance on weight loss product scams at bbb.org, along with the BBB’s scam alert on these misleading products.