people-seeking-medical-advice

What changed

Beginning around October 2025, a campaign reportedly used AI-generated videos and cloned voices of well-known public figures and celebrities such as Bill Gates, Sanjay Gupta, Anderson Cooper, Bruce Willis, and others to market honey-based supplements as treatments for Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Consumers reportedly said modest purchases sometimes led to continuing charges or unwanted shipments, while cancellation and refund requests were difficult to resolve.

Timeline

1. 2 July 2026Purported Deepfakes of Public Figures and Celebrities Reportedly Used to Market Honey-Based Supplements as Alzheimer's Treatments
   Incident82%

   • Facebook page introduced by Anderson Cooper talking about an Alzheimer treatment of Dr. Sanjay Gupta, 1089143https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/lookupscam/1089143
   • Deepfake scam targets Alzheimer's patients with false promise of honey-based curehttps://www.nbcchicago.com/consumer/deepfake-scam-targets-alzheimers-patients-with-false-promises-of-honey-based-cure/3955606/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1564https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1564/

   Facebook page introduced by Anderson Cooper talking about an Alzheimer treatment of Dr. Sanjay Gupta, 1089143Deepfake scam targets Alzheimer's patients with false promise of honey-based cureAI Incident Database - Incident 1564
2. 9 June 2026Kosovo Public Broadcaster RTK and Journalist Gëzim Bimbashi Were Reportedly AI-Impersonated in Alleged Fake Joint-Cure Scam Video
   Incident82%

   • Keqpërdorimi i imazhit të gazetarëve të RTK për të mashtruar qytetarëthttps://kallxo.com/krypometer/keqperdorimi-i-imazhit-te-gazetareve-te-rtk-per-te-mashtruar-qytetaret/
   • Identitete të vjedhura: Si po përdoret AI për mashtrime në shëndetësi duke përdorur figurat publike?https://kallxo.com/gjate/identitete-te-vjedhura-si-po-perdoret-ai-per-mashtrime-ne-shendetesi-duke-perdorur-figurat-publike/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1518https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1518/

   Keqpërdorimi i imazhit të gazetarëve të RTK për të mashtruar qytetarëtIdentitete të vjedhura: Si po përdoret AI për mashtrime në shëndetësi duke përdorur figurat publike?AI Incident Database - Incident 1518
3. 24 Apr 2026Purportedly AI-Manipulated Medical Scam Advertisement Reportedly Used Bulgarian TV Host and Physician's Likenesses
   Incident78%

   • Измама с изкуствен интелект: Водещ на БНТ и лекар са използвани за фалшива схемаhttps://bntnews.bg/news/izmama-s-izkustven-intelekt-vodesht-na-bnt-i-lekar-sa-izpolzvani-za-falshiva-shema-1263466news.html
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1461https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1461/

   Измама с изкуствен интелект: Водещ на БНТ и лекар са използвани за фалшива схемаAI Incident Database - Incident 1461
4. 24 Apr 2026Purported Deepfake Facebook Advertisement Reportedly Used Bulgarian Actor and TV Host Mihail Bilalov's Likeness to Market Joint-Pain Product
   Incident78%

   • Видео, манипулирано с изкуствен интелект, използва лицето на Михаил Билалов за рекламаhttps://factcheck.bg/video-manipulirano-s-izkustven-intelekt-izpolzva-liceto-na-mihail-bilalov-za-reklama/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1462https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1462/

   Видео, манипулирано с изкуствен интелект, използва лицето на Михаил Билалов за рекламаAI Incident Database - Incident 1462
5. 24 Apr 2026Purported Deepfake Facebook Advertisement Reportedly Used Bulgarian Actor, Director, and Playwright Kamen Donev's Likeness to Market Joint-Pain Product
   Incident78%

   • Видео, манипулирано с изкуствен интелект, използва лицето на Камен Донев за рекламаhttps://factcheck.bg/video-manipulirano-s-izkustven-intelekt-izpolzva-liceto-na-kamen-donev-za-reklama/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1463https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1463/

   Видео, манипулирано с изкуствен интелект, използва лицето на Камен Донев за рекламаAI Incident Database - Incident 1463
6. 19 Apr 2026Video with Reportedly AI-Generated Media Purported to Show Croatian Immunologist Stipan Jonjić Promoting Anti-Parasite Product on Facebook
   Incident78%

   • Imunolog Stipan Jonjić ne reklamira sumnjivi lijekhttps://faktograf.hr/2024/08/30/imunolog-stipan-jonjic-ne-reklamira-sumnjivi-lijek/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1457https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1457/

   Imunolog Stipan Jonjić ne reklamira sumnjivi lijekAI Incident Database - Incident 1457
7. 19 Apr 2026Video with Reportedly AI-Generated Media Purported to Show Croatian Neurosurgeon Josip Paladino Endorsing Steplex in Fake TV Segment on Facebook
   Incident78%

   • Neurokirurg Josip Paladino ponovno je žrtva deepfakea u kojem se reklamira sumnjivi preparathttps://faktograf.hr/2024/09/13/neurokirurg-josip-paladino-ponovno-je-zrtva-deepfakea-u-kojem-se-reklamira-sumnjivi-preparat/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1458https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1458/

   Neurokirurg Josip Paladino ponovno je žrtva deepfakea u kojem se reklamira sumnjivi preparatAI Incident Database - Incident 1458
8. 19 Apr 2026Video with Reportedly AI-Generated Media Purported to Show Croatian Physician Alemka Markotić Endorsing Hondrosol After False Murder Claim on Facebook
   Incident78%

   • Pojavila se AI generirana snimka u kojoj se tvrdi da je Alemka Markotić ubijenahttps://faktograf.hr/2024/10/25/alemka-markotic-nije-ubijena-zbog-njezinog-lijeka-za-bolove-u-zglobovima/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1459https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1459/

   Pojavila se AI generirana snimka u kojoj se tvrdi da je Alemka Markotić ubijenaAI Incident Database - Incident 1459
9. 18 Apr 2026Purportedly AI-Generated Facebook Video Allegedly Misused Skënder Brataj and Blendi Fevziu to Promote Purported Miracle Cream in Albania
   Incident78%

   • Brataj dhe Fevziu, viktima të një ‘deepfake’ në Facebookhttps://www.gazetatema.net/sociale/brataj-dhe-fevziu--te-nje-deepfake-ne-facebook-i503462
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1451https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1451/

   Brataj dhe Fevziu, viktima të një ‘deepfake’ në FacebookAI Incident Database - Incident 1451
10. 18 Apr 2026Purported AI-Generated Impersonations of Albanian Cardiologist Spiro Qirko and Journalist Ilir Topi Were Reportedly Used on Facebook to Promote Hypertension Product in Kosovo
    Incident78%

    • Keqpërdorimi i emrit të kardiologut shqipëtar dhe gazetarit nga Shqipëria për të shitur ilaçe për hipertensionhttps://kallxo.com/krypometer/keqperdorimi-i-emrit-te-kardiologut-shqipetar-dhe-gazetarit-nga-shqiperia-per-te-shitur-ilace-per-hipertension/
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 1452https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1452/

    Keqpërdorimi i emrit të kardiologut shqipëtar dhe gazetarit nga Shqipëria për të shitur ilaçe për hipertensionAI Incident Database - Incident 1452
11. 18 Apr 2026Purported Deepfake Videos Allegedly Impersonated Optometrist Joseph Allen to Promote Myopia-Reversal Eyedrops on TikTok
    Incident82%

    • Optometrist Fights Back After Deepfake Scamhttps://www.visionmonday.com/scene-and-heard/todays-read/article/optometrist-fights-back-after-deepfake-scam/
    • WARNING! Don’t Fall for this Ai Deepfake SCAM!https://www.goldenhousetucson.com/chinese-food/2025/07/15/warning-dont-fall-for-this-ai-deepfake-scam/
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 1455https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1455/

    Optometrist Fights Back After Deepfake ScamWARNING! Don’t Fall for this Ai Deepfake SCAM!AI Incident Database - Incident 1455
12. 6 Apr 2026Deepfakes Reportedly Impersonated David Taylor-Robinson and Other UK Health Experts to Promote Wellness Nest Supplements
    Incident82%

    • AI deepfakes of real doctors spreading health misinformation on social mediahttps://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/dec/05/ai-deepfakes-of-real-doctors-spreading-health-misinformation-on-social-media
    • AI Deepfakes of Real Doctors Spreading Health Misinformation on Social Mediahttps://www.nphic.org/news/news-highlights/2554-ai-deepfakes-of-real-doctors-spreading-health-misinformation-on-social-media
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 1397https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1397/

    AI deepfakes of real doctors spreading health misinformation on social mediaAI Deepfakes of Real Doctors Spreading Health Misinformation on Social MediaAI Incident Database - Incident 1397

PSF mapping