LINDEN

A famous person in an online advert recommends an investment.

Deepfake investment adverts use AI-made videos of famous people to sell fake schemes, and this post explains the warning signs and what to do.

Source: This post is based on the alert Report Fraud warning after £24.3 million stolen through AI enabled investment endorsement schemes, published by Report Fraud (City of London Police) on October 27, 2026.

You are reading the news or scrolling social media and see a well-known person, or a name you trust, apparently recommending an investment. The video looks real and the offer sounds simple. This is a deepfake investment advert, a fake celebrity endorsement made with artificial intelligence (AI). Do not click it, do not leave your details, and do not pay.

Report Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting service run by the City of London Police, has warned that criminals are using AI to make these fake endorsements look genuine. If an investment catches your eye, take your time and talk it through with someone you trust before any money moves.

What the scam looks like

Report Fraud says criminals are using AI-made videos and images to create online adverts or fake news articles that show “endorsements” from well-known public figures or trusted financial institutions. The endorsements are fraudulent.

According to Report Fraud, people click on the fake endorsement and are persuaded to give their personal details. Someone then contacts them, posing as an investment adviser or account manager. After a first payment, they are shown supposed profits on a professional-looking trading platform and convinced to invest larger sums. When they try to withdraw their money, the fraudsters often say more payments are needed for fees or charges, and even more money is lost.

Report Fraud adds that criminals often claim the scheme is linked to emerging technologies, government-backed initiatives, or exclusive opportunities. The fake platform and the withdrawal fees work the same way as in investment scams that start with someone you met online.

Who it targets

Anyone can see these adverts, but older people are reporting them most. Report Fraud says it received more than 1,300 reports of AI-enabled investment fraud between January and August 2026, and that people aged 60 or over made nearly 80 per cent (1,033) of them. Report Fraud also says criminals stole £24.3 million through these schemes over that period.

That is why it helps for families to talk about this together. A parent or grandparent who is curious about investing deserves support, not embarrassment.

Warning signs

  • A well-known person or a trusted institution seems to recommend an investment in an advert or a “news” story.
  • You are asked for your personal details after clicking.
  • Someone calling themselves an investment adviser or account manager contacts you soon after.
  • Your early “profits” look impressive on a polished trading platform, and you are encouraged to put in more.
  • You are told to pay a fee or charge before you can take your own money out.
  • You feel rushed. Report Fraud says legitimate organisations “will never pressure you into investing on the spot”.

How to protect yourself

  • Take your time. Report Fraud says not to be rushed into making an investment.
  • Check the firm. Report Fraud advises using the Financial Conduct Authority’s Firm Checker to see whether a company is authorised. It warns that if you deal with a firm that is not authorised, you may not be covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service if things go wrong.
  • Seek advice first. Before a significant financial decision, speak with trusted friends or family, or get professional independent advice.

A simple family plan

  • Agree a pause rule. Anyone in the family mentions a new investment to someone they trust before sending money, with no judgement either way.
  • Treat a famous face as a reason to check. A video of someone well known is not proof that they said it.
  • Check together. Look up the firm together before anyone pays.

Scams don’t stop at borders

This alert comes from the UK, but fake celebrity investment adverts appear online wherever people are, and they can reach you in the US, Canada or anywhere else. Wherever you live, it is worth staying informed about warnings like this one and being wise before sending money to an investment you found through an advert.

The same pattern elsewhere

In the United States, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has warned in Criminals Use Generative Artificial Intelligence to Facilitate Financial Fraud that criminals use AI-generated videos to create believable depictions of public figures, and to make “fictitious or misleading promotional materials for investment fraud schemes”. The FBI advises never sending money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or other assets to people you have met only online or over the phone.

What to do if you’ve been affected

Stop sending money, including any fees to release your funds. Being targeted is nothing to be ashamed of. These schemes are designed to look genuine.

  • US: file a complaint with the FBI’s IC3 and report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you are 60 or older and need help filing with IC3, call the DOJ Elder Justice Hotline on 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).
  • UK: call 159 to reach your bank (Stop Scams UK) and report to Report Fraud or on 0300 123 2040.
  • Canada: report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
  • Contact your bank on the number printed on your card or statement, not a number from the advert, the call or a message.

How Linden helps

Linden is being built so older adults and their families can talk a money decision through with someone they trust. A second opinion before money moves is often all it takes to see that an advert is too good to be true.

Sources

All scams