- Martin Lewis warns of deepfake scam ad targeting vulnerable individuals
- Deepfake video scam aims to destroy Lewis’ online reputation and cause financial harm
- Lewis calls for government and regulators to intervene and protect victims from fraudulent advertisements
The consumer finance expert, who has 2.3 million Twitter followers, warned that deep fake content aimed to destroy his reputation.
Martin Lewis, the founder of Money Saving Expert, has warned that a new AI-generated scam ad for an investment app will cause vulnerable individuals to lose money and destroy their lives.
The ad, which purportedly circulated on Facebook, appears to show Mr. Lewis endorsing an investment scheme backed by Elon Musk while hosting an episode of This Morning from his home.
Mr. Lewis appears to state in the online video that Musk’s new initiative “creates new opportunities for British citizens.”
Mr. Lewis said deepfake technology is being used to “pervert and destroy” his online reputation.
“This is frightening, it’s the first deepfake video scam I’ve seen with me in it,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Government and regulators must intervene to prevent big tech from publishing such hazardous hoaxes. People will lose money, which will ruin their livelihoods.”
He stated that this was the first time he had been used in a video fraud of this nature.
Mr. Lewis added, “These people are attempting to pervert and destroy my reputation to steal money from vulnerable people. It’s a disgrace, and people’s finances and mental health will suffer as a result.
He emphasized the importance of regulating fraudulent advertisements and protecting victims of financial crimes.
“Vulnerable people and many non-vulnerable people are being scammed in this country, and nothing is being done about it”, he said.
He stated that there are presently no “proper” penalties for large tech companies that are paid to publish illegal advertisements.
Meta, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, collaborates with Stop Hoaxes UK to assist victims and eliminate hoaxes as soon as it becomes aware of them.
It has stated that it is investigating claims that the video featuring Mr. Lewis appeared on Facebook.
