Celebrities targeted: Fake ads misuse star images in scams
Actors, politicians, singers, and other public figures often find their images used in fake campaigns organized by scammers. These scammers use technology like deepfake to create fabricated videos and posts, impersonating celebrities to persuade people to invest.
10:18 AM EDT, October 12, 2024
Although such actions are clearly illegal, they unfortunately prove to be effective. Recently, we covered the story of a 31-year-old woman from Krakow who, after conversing with a stranger via messenger, believed she was communicating with a famous singer and eventually transferred tens of thousands of dollars to him. More commonly, though, are fabricated advertisements, especially those related to cryptocurrency investments, where scammers use images of famous people.
Companies like McAfee are researching the issue of using celebrities' images for online scams. The company publishes an annual report on this topic. The report reveals, among other things, which celebrities are most frequently featured in fabricated materials. This information can help raise awareness and encourage people to approach some advertisements skeptically. The post's content might be fake even if a beloved figure appears in the photo.
According to the latest report from McAfee, the celebrities most commonly used in fake online materials are:
- Scarlett Johansson
- Kylie Jenner
- Taylor Swift
- Anya Taylor-Joy
- Tom Hanks
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Sydney Sweeney
- Blake Lively
- Johnny Depp
- Addison Rae
We want to remind you not to believe everything you see online automatically. It's crucial to assume the advertisement might be fabricated, especially when it comes to investment offers that promise easy profits and feature a famous person's image. If you're genuinely interested in an investment, thoroughly research its credibility and make financial decisions thoughtfully, without being swayed by others' opinions.
