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JAMIE TUCKER Consumer Technology Reporter
Facebook and Instagram reels of Luke Combs, Laney Wilson, Miranda Lambert, or Garth Brooks and Tisha Yearwood tossing weight loss gummies are fake.
In a world where scammers thrive on deception, the latest trends include the exploitation of AI-generated sponsored ads on social media platforms like Instagram.
The allure of losing weight quickly, championed by country music sensation Luke Combs, has become the latest bait for unsuspecting consumers.
Recently, a sponsored Instagram Reel appeared featuring what appears to be Luke Combs promoting weight loss gummies. But closer inspection revealed that scammers had manipulated Combs’ image, replacing his voice and changing his mouth movements to create the illusion of his endorsement. has become clear.
In the deceptive ad, Combs allegedly bragged about losing 46 pounds in just six weeks, attributing his transformation to weight loss gummies. The scammers also made it appear as if Combs had received the gummies from fellow country music star Laney Wilson.
The fraudulent ad received so much attention on social media that Wilson denied any connection to the product on Instagram. She warned her followers: That’s not true. People will do anything to make money, even if it’s a lie. No one sent me gummies. ”
The process of creating these fake ads is surprisingly easy and inexpensive. Using his free software, which is widely available online, the scammer imitates Combs’ voice and manipulates his lip movements to synchronize with the fabricated endorsement.
To compound the problem, clicking on the ad redirects users to a website that pretends to be a legitimate news source, USA Today, but actually originates from China.
While Facebook has taken steps to label many of these ads as “false,” parent company Meta has chosen to leave them alone due to its sponsored status. The decision has raised concerns that the platforms are complicit in profiting from fraudulent activity.
Consumers are advised to use caution when encountering advertisements on social media, especially those featuring prominent celebrities. The absence of such recommendations on traditional television platforms should serve as a red flag indicating potential fraudulent intent behind these ads.
