The internet is rife with misleading advertisements and deepfakes, and one particularly prevalent scam involves falsely associating celebrities with weight loss products, specifically keto gummies. One recent example involves singer Kelly Clarkson, whose image and likeness have been fraudulently used to promote these products. This article aims to debunk these claims and provide clarity on the deceptive tactics employed in these scams.
The False Claim: Kelly Clarkson and Keto Gummies
A video circulating online falsely claims that Kelly Clarkson is endorsing keto gummies for weight loss. This video is an altered version of an original post where Clarkson discusses her album "Chemistry." A spokesperson for Clarkson, Melissa Kates, confirmed that the singer has never promoted diet pills or gummies.
Identifying the Deepfake
The video in question is a deepfake, a type of video manipulation that uses artificial intelligence to make it appear as though someone is saying or doing something they did not. Siwei Lyu, a computer science and engineering professor at the University at Buffalo and co-director of the university’s Center for Information Integrity, analyzed the deepfake of Clarkson and identified several red flags. One key indicator is the mismatch between Clarkson's mouth movements and the sounds she is purportedly making. For example, when making bilabial sounds (consonants articulated using both lips, such as 'b,' 'p,' 'm,' and 'n'), the lips should be partially closed. However, in the deepfake, Clarkson's mouth appears open during these sounds.
The "Shark Tank" Connection: A Recurring Scam
The "Shark Tank" television show has become a frequent target for scammers promoting CBD and keto gummies. These scams falsely claim that the show's investors have endorsed or invested in these products, even though no such episode has ever aired. The scammers often create fake articles branded with the logos of major publishers to lend credibility to their claims. These articles typically feature various celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Ree Drummond, Kelly Clarkson, Tom Selleck, Kaley Cuoco, Melissa McCarthy, and Wayne Gretzky, all falsely portrayed as endorsing CBD or keto gummies.
Shark Tank executive producer Clay Newbill confirms: “I can tell you, we don’t put keto diet pills on our show”.
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How the Scam Works
The scam typically involves enticing advertisements on social media that appear legitimate. These ads lead to fake articles and product order pages. Many users have reported receiving unsolicited bags of CBD or keto gummies at their doorstep, often from a nameless "fulfillment center" with a P.O. box return address. Additionally, users have reported being charged significantly more than the initially advertised price, sometimes close to $200 instead of the expected $40.
Mark Cuban, one of the "Shark Tank" investors, has spoken out against these scams, questioning why platforms cannot detect fake keto or CBD gummy ads. He also highlighted the absurdity of anyone believing that keto pills work based on fake endorsements.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
- Celebrity Endorsements: Be wary of any advertisements featuring celebrities endorsing CBD or keto gummies, especially if the claims seem too good to be true.
- Fake Articles: Watch out for articles branded with the logos of major publishers that promote CBD or keto gummies with celebrity endorsements. Verify the authenticity of the article by checking the publisher's official website.
- Unsolicited Products: Be cautious if you receive unsolicited CBD or keto gummies products, especially if you have no recollection of ordering them.
- Unexpected Charges: Monitor your credit card statements for unauthorized or inflated charges related to CBD or keto gummies.
- Missing Information: Be wary of product order pages with missing or disconnected phone numbers, or those that lead to generic, nameless customer service lines.
- New Brands with No History: Be suspicious of brand new CBD gummies and keto gummies product names that lack a parent company or any other branding details.
Legal Action Against Scammers
The use of celebrity images and likenesses without permission is a serious issue, and some celebrities have taken legal action against scammers. For example, Clint Eastwood won a lawsuit and was awarded $6.1 million for the unauthorized use of his name and image to promote CBD products. In a separate case, he won an additional $2 million.
How to Report Scams
If you encounter scammy articles claiming that "Shark Tank" or other celebrities endorse keto gummies, or if you find a product order page that you believe is involved in a scam, report the domain URL to its registrar.
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