Deepfake scam targets Alzheimer's patients with false promise of honey-based cure - NBC 5 Chicago

A social media scam is currently exploiting deepfake technology to promote fraudulent health products to vulnerable consumers. By leveraging the likeness of trusted public figures, scammers are marketing a honey-based remedy they falsely claim can cure or reverse Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

What happened

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued a warning after receiving consumer complaints regarding AI-generated videos featuring Bill Gates, Anderson Cooper, and Bruce Willis. In these videos, the celebrities appear to endorse honey-based supplements as a medical breakthrough. The scam relies on high-pressure sales tactics, urging consumers to purchase products and sign up for subscription plans.

Once victims provide their payment information, they frequently report unauthorized recurring charges on their credit cards. Victims have also encountered significant difficulty canceling these subscriptions, receiving no response from customer service, and having refund requests denied or ignored.

Experts emphasize that there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that honey-based supplements can treat or prevent memory-related illnesses. The Alzheimer's Association has confirmed it does not endorse any such supplements, and the office of Bill Gates has explicitly stated that claims of his involvement are false. The BBB advises consumers to be wary of ads promising secret cures hidden from the medical community and suggests reporting any unauthorized charges directly to their bank.