Oprah Winfrey AI media incident — Oct 2026

Scammers are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to impersonate trusted celebrities, creating highly convincing social media advertisements that lure consumers into fraudulent transactions. By utilizing deepfake technology to synthesize the likeness and voice of famous figures, these bad actors exploit public trust to promote non-existent or substandard health and weight loss products.

What happened

In a recent incident reported to the Better Business Bureau, a consumer encountered a Facebook advertisement featuring a live video of Oprah Winfrey alongside a doctor. The video claimed the pair had invented a product known as the "Pink Salt Trick." The advertisement directed the user to a counterfeit website where they were prompted to make an initial purchase. Following the first transaction, the site presented additional opportunities to upgrade the order, leading to further charges for supplementary products like cellulite treatments.

The victim reported three separate charges totaling $883.07 before realizing the endorsement was fraudulent. Upon discovering that the videos were computer-generated, the consumer attempted to resolve the issue through their bank and payment processor. This case highlights the growing sophistication of AI-driven fraud, where scammers combine deepfake video and audio with social media advertising to create a false sense of legitimacy. Experts warn that these AI-generated assets are becoming increasingly realistic, making it difficult for users to distinguish between authentic celebrity endorsements and malicious fabrications. The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to verify the legitimacy of social media accounts and official sources before engaging in any financial transactions prompted by celebrity-endorsed advertisements.