‘I thought I was unscammable.’ Celebrity AI deepfakes…

In July 2026, an 82-year-old resident of East Richmond, Lee Glickstein, became the victim of a sophisticated online scam after clicking an advertisement for a purported Alzheimer's cure. The incident highlights the growing threat of AI-generated content used to lend false credibility to fraudulent dietary supplements.

What happened

The scam centered on a dietary supplement called MemoPryl, marketed through hyper-realistic deepfake videos featuring celebrities including Bill Gates, Samuel L. Jackson, Steve Martin, Savannah Guthrie, Chris Hemsworth, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta. These videos, which appeared on platforms like Facebook and Google, directed users to landing pages designed to mimic legitimate news organizations such as CNN.

In the videos, AI-generated depictions of these public figures falsely claimed the supplement could reverse memory loss and treat dementia. For instance, the deepfake of Bill Gates referenced his father’s actual history with Alzheimer’s to build emotional trust, while the Steve Martin deepfake claimed the product helped him memorize lines. Glickstein, who does not have Alzheimer's, was persuaded by the high-quality production to purchase a six-pack of the supplement for $294. Although Glickstein eventually received the physical product nine days later, the supplement's own fine print admitted it was not evaluated by the FDA and was not intended to treat or cure any disease.

The scammers utilized a network of similar fake websites and products—such as Memopezil, Brain Honey, Mind Boost, and Brain Vex—to avoid detection. When contacted for information, representatives of the company provided only links to scientific articles rather than answering direct questions about manufacturing or leadership. This incident underscores a broader trend where scammers exploit publicly available celebrity likenesses to create persuasive, AI-driven narratives, effectively targeting older adults through social media advertising.