What You Should Know:
– Social media has become a breeding ground for deceptive health supplement ads, with AI-powered deepfakes taking these scams to a whole new level of danger. A recent study by Bitdefender Labs reveals a dramatic increase in phony social media ads promoting fictitious supplements and treatments.
-Researchers at Bitdefender Labs analyzed health-related scams on social media platforms like Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram over a three-month period, uncovering a disturbing trend.
Key Findings of the Study
- A surge in health-related scams using AI-generated images, videos, and audio to advertise various supplements on Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram.
- The highest number of followers on a compromised page promoting fake ads exceeded 350,000.
- Over 1,000 deepfake videos were identified across online communities.
- More than 40 misleading medical supplement ads were detected.
The Deceptive Power of Deepfakes
Deepfakes, manipulated videos or audio recordings, are a new weapon in the scammer’s arsenal. They allow fraudsters to:
- Personalize Scams: Tailor messages and ads to exploit individuals’ specific health concerns, increasing engagement.
- Craft Convincing Content: Generate grammatically correct messages that align with the promoted products.
- Boost Credibility: Feature deepfakes of celebrities, medical professionals, and other trusted figures endorsing the supplements.
The deepfakes analyzed varied in quality, but many were difficult to distinguish from genuine content. These scams were conducted in multiple languages, targeting millions of people worldwide.
How to Identify a Phony Supplement Scam
Be cautious of social media ads that exhibit these red flags:
- Promises to Cure Multiple Diseases: If a product claims to be a cure-all, it’s likely a scam.
- Aggressive Sales Tactics and Medical Advice: Legitimate companies don’t pressure customers or provide medical advice.
- Celebrity and Medical Professional Endorsements (via Deepfakes): Don’t trust endorsements from seemingly well-known figures, especially in deepfakes.
- Limited-Time Offers and Huge Discounts: These tactics create a sense of urgency to rush into a purchase.
- Forced Multi-Product Purchases: Legitimate companies allow you to buy single items.
- Suspicious Reviews: Beware of overwhelmingly positive reviews, which may be fabricated.
- Phrases to Watch Out For: Be wary of language like “secret cure,” “doctors are hiding the truth,” or guaranteed results in a short timeframe.
Protecting Yourself from Supplement Scams
- Consult Your Doctor: Always seek medical advice from a licensed physician before using any supplements or medications.
- Research Before You Buy: Investigate supplement companies and products online, checking for customer reviews and complaints.
- Verify Social Media Ads: Don’t trust everything you see on social media. Be skeptical of ads using medical jargon.
- Scrutinize Websites: If a website seems legitimate, use tools like WHOIS to check the domain registration date. Recent registration is a red flag.
- Secure Payment Methods: Avoid using debit cards for online purchases. Monitor credit card statements for unauthorized charges.
- Anti-Scam Software: Consider using security software with anti-phishing and anti-fraud protection.
