Tom Hanks, has issued a serious warning to his fans regarding fraudulent advertisements circulating online that misuse his image and voice. On Friday, Hanks took to Instagram to alert his followers about these deceptive ads, which falsely claim his endorsement of various products and treatments.
“There are multiple ads over the internet falsely using my name, likeness, and voice to promote miracle cures and wonder drugs. These ads have been created without my consent, fraudulently and through AI,” Hanks stated in his post.
The actor made it clear that he has “nothing to do with these posts or the products and treatments, or the spokespeople touting these cures.” Hanks, who has type 2 diabetes, emphasized that he only collaborates with his board-certified doctor for his medical treatment. “I have type 2 diabetes and I ONLY work with my board-certified doctor regarding my treatment,” he wrote.
Hanks urged his fans to “not be fooled, not be swindled,” and to “not lose hard-earned money” to these scams. He cautioned his followers to be vigilant and not fall victim to these misleading ads.
This isn’t the first time Hanks’ likeness has been misused. In October last year, he warned his followers about a fake ad promoting a dental plan that used an AI-generated version of him. At that time, he also shared a screenshot of the ad on Instagram, urging fans to “BEWARE!!”
Hanks is not the only celebrity targeted by AI-generated ads. According to The Hollywood Reporter, country singer Luke Combs was featured in a fake ad promoting “miracle” weight loss gummies last year. Other high-profile figures like Piers Morgan, Nigella Lawson, and Oprah Winfrey have also fallen victim to similar scams, where real footage is manipulated with AI-generated dialogue to make the ads appear authentic.
Additionally, Scarlett Johansson took legal action against a company last year for allegedly using her image and voice to advertise its deepfake-generating capabilities. She also sued OpenAI earlier this year, accusing them of using her voice in a demo for their ChatGPT 4 model.
As AI technology continues to advance, the misuse of celebrity likenesses in fake ads is becoming increasingly common, prompting stars like Hanks to speak out and protect their fans from being deceived.
