AI deepfake scammers target Oprah to sell $300 fake weight loss pills

Scammers are using AI deepfake technology to create fake endorsement videos featuring Oprah Winfrey promoting weight loss supplements, tricking consumers into purchasing fraudulent products. The sophisticated scam highlights the growing threat of AI-generated content being weaponized for financial fraud, as victims struggle to distinguish between authentic celebrity endorsements and AI-manufactured deceptions.

What happened: A consumer named Suzanne Spangler fell victim to a deepfake scam after seeing what appeared to be Oprah Winfrey endorsing a pink salt weight loss supplement.

• The fake video claimed the product mimics the effects of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Mounjaro for a fraction of the cost.
• Spangler was charged over $300 for pills that arrived in a “strange green bottle” with no paperwork.
• When she attempted to return the product to the Florida address provided, the shipping store revealed it was actually a car shop address.

The technology threat: Deepfake AI technology creates realistic but fabricated videos by digitally manipulating existing footage to make it appear someone said or did something they never actually did.

• Scammers are specifically targeting Oprah’s likeness to promote weight loss products, exploiting her trusted public image.
• “Someone is out there misusing my name,” Winfrey stated, confirming she has not endorsed any weight loss supplements.

Red flags to watch: Several warning signs indicated the fraudulent nature of the transaction.

• The product arrived without proper documentation or legitimate packaging.
• The return address led to an unrelated business rather than a legitimate supplement company.
• The seller became untraceable after payment was processed.

What they’re saying: The victim expressed lasting skepticism about celebrity endorsements following the experience.

• “I will never trust a celebrity endorsement again,” Spangler said.

The bottom line: Oprah does not endorse any weight-loss supplements, making any video showing her promoting such products automatically suspect.