AI-Driven Fake Celebrity Ads are Japan’s Latest Scam Trend
At least AI is good for something: thieves in Japan are using it to impersonate celebs like Naomi Osaka and con people out of millions.
Celebrities promote themselves on social media all the time. Scammers are abusing unassuming social media users with fake ads that look as though their celebrity role models put it out themselves.
Enraged celebrities ask Meta for accountability
“It’s unfortunate and sad. I’m honestly angry. Enough is enough.”
Those were the first words Yusaku Maezawa, 48, told Japan’s national broadcaster NHK in a recent interview.
Maezawa is a Japanese billionaire entrepreneur, art collector, and founder of Japan’s largest online fashion retail website Zozotown.
He is one of the many celebrities who scammers are using for their own profit. A trend of fake ads that scammers distribute by posing as admired celebrities such as Maezawa has prompted him to act as more and more victims emerge.
