AI Deepfakes Are Turning Trusted Doctors Into Fake Health Product Pitchmen

The Doctors Are Real, but the Sales Pitches Are Frauds

Scammers are using A.I. to impersonate medical professionals and promote questionable health products. These fake endorsements can fool millions, leading to false hopes and wasted money.

Fake Medical Endorsements Powered by A.I.

Take Dr. Robert H. Lustig, an endocrinologist and professor emeritus at the University of California, San Francisco. Despite his real credentials and best-selling books on obesity, videos and posts show him promoting “liquid pearls” with unproven weight loss claims. These videos are deepfakes created using artificial intelligence, without his knowledge or consent.

This tactic isn’t isolated. Scammers are hijacking the online identities of respected doctors worldwide to sell ineffective or bogus health products. The use of advanced A.I. tools allows fraudsters to convincingly mimic voices and appearances, making it harder to spot the scams.

Why Sales Professionals Should Care

• Trust is fragile: When fake endorsements surface, it damages public confidence not only in the individuals impersonated but also in legitimate sales and marketing efforts involving real experts.
• Consumers get confused: Buyers may fall for false claims, wasting money on ineffective products instead of seeking real medical advice.
• Reputation risk: If your sales strategy relies on influencer endorsements, fake or fraudulent ones can backfire, damaging your brand’s credibility.

Recognizing and avoiding these scams is critical. Always verify endorsements directly from the source or official channels before using them in your sales pitches.

What You Can Do

• Stay informed about how A.I. is being used to create deceptive content.
• Verify any medical endorsements through trusted sites or official statements.
• Educate your prospects on recognizing legitimate health claims versus scams.
• Use transparent and ethical marketing practices to build trust.

The rise of A.I.-powered frauds is a reminder that technology can be a tool for deception as much as innovation. Staying alert protects your sales integrity and helps customers make better decisions.

For those interested in learning more about how A.I. tools work and how to spot misuse, resources like Complete AI Training offer courses that can sharpen your understanding and skills.