Scam library · Investment & crypto · Email & phishing
Celebrity deepfake investment ad scam
A video on social media shows a famous billionaire, news anchor or TV personality explaining a new way to earn money. The face moves, the voice sounds right. It links to a sign-up page.
It's a deepfake: AI-generated video and audio. The celebrity never said it, and the platform is a scam.
The same trick is used with fake interviews, fake TV news segments and fake magazine pages, all built to borrow trust from a familiar face.
What the message looks like
From: Video ad: 'Famous investor reveals passive income secret'
[Video of a well-known businessperson] 'I've never told anyone this, but this new AI platform is how ordinary people are earning thousands a week.'
Click below to register before they close the program.
How this scam works
Deepfake tools have become cheap and easy to use, and scammers use them to create fake endorsements in ads and fake news articles. The ads are often removed quickly, then reappear under new accounts.
Clicking leads to a fake news article or sign-up page. After you enter your phone number, an 'adviser' calls and pushes you to deposit money, often in crypto.
Watch closely: lips that don't quite match the words, odd blinking, unnatural voice tone, or a video that cuts away often. But deepfakes are improving, so don't rely only on spotting glitches.
The safest rule is simple: celebrities don't share secret investment tips in ads. If a famous person really backed a product, you'd find it on their official accounts and in reputable news. A quick search for the platform's name plus 'scam' often turns up warnings from regulators and other victims.
Red flags
- A celebrity endorsing an investment or 'secret' income method.
- Ads linking to fake news articles.
- Pressure to register before the program closes.
- A follow-up call from an 'adviser' after you enter your number.
- Unnatural lip movements or voice.
How to tell it’s fake
- Check the celebrity's official accounts and reputable news for any real endorsement.
- Search the platform name with 'scam'.
- Check registration with the SEC or FINRA.
What to do if you clicked, paid or shared info
Don’t panic, and don’t blame yourself. These scams are built by professionals. Act quickly, one step at a time.
If you clicked a link or called back
- If you entered your phone number, expect calls. Hang up and block them.
If you paid
- If you deposited money, contact your bank or exchange immediately and report it to ic3.gov.
If you shared personal info, a password or a code
- If you shared ID documents, watch for identity theft and visit IdentityTheft.gov.
Where to report and get help (U.S.)
If a message seems legit and you’re still not sure, get a second opinion before you act. Reporting helps stop scammers, even if money can’t be recovered. If you are in danger, call 911.
- Your bank or card issuer
Call the number on the back of your card or on your statement, not one from the message. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and to watch the account. - Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Report the scam and get a step-by-step recovery plan. - FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) · ic3.gov
Report scams that happened online, especially if money was lost. Include phone numbers, websites and payment details. - AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline · aarp.org helpline
Free, for anyone of any age: trained volunteers help you sort out next steps. 877-908-3360, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. - IdentityTheft.gov · IdentityTheft.gov
If you shared your Social Security number or someone opened accounts in your name.
How Gmork Scam Guard would warn you
Scam Guard in Chrome and Edge on your computer checks the pages behind social media ads. It recognizes fake news articles and investment sign-up pages and warns before you enter your details. If a video seems legit, a scam expert can take a second look.
Scam Guard can miss things, so the checks above still matter. See what it warns about and what it keeps private.
Questions people ask
- How can I tell if a video is a deepfake?
- Look for mismatched lips and odd voice tone, but the safest rule is: celebrities don't advertise secret investments.
- Why don't platforms remove these ads?
- Some are removed, but scammers keep creating new ones.
- I gave my number. What now?
- Don't take calls from 'advisers'. Block and report.
- Should I report the ad?
- Yes, report it on the platform and to the FTC.
- Can deepfakes copy voices too?
- Yes. AI can clone a voice from short clips, so a familiar voice isn't proof a video is real.