Scammers are using AI-generated videos of celebrities including Taylor Swift and Rihanna to promote fraudulent services on TikTok, according to a report published in April 2026 by authentication company Copyleaks.
The fake ads typically place celebrities in interview-style settings — red carpets, podcasts, or talk shows — and manipulate real footage using AI. Many of the ads promote so-called rewards programs, claiming users can earn money by watching TikTok content and providing feedback. In one ad, a realistic AI avatar of Swift urges viewers to sign up for a feature called “TikTok Pay.” In another, a fake Rihanna tells users, “you literally just watch content and give your opinion.”
Some ads feature TikTok’s official branding, but users who click are redirected to third-party services that request personal information.
The findings highlight the growing difficulty social media platforms face in controlling convincing deepfakes. TikTok is not alone: reports suggest users of Meta’s platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, are exposed to billions of scam ads per day, and Meta’s own oversight board has acknowledged the company has a deepfake problem. YouTube has also said it is “investing heavily” in combating celebrity scam ads.
Celebrities are also taking independent steps to protect themselves. Swift recently filed new trademark applications for clips of her voice in an effort to guard against AI imitation.
For everyday users, the trend suggests that AI-generated scam content is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish from legitimate material — and that the problem extends well beyond any single platform.
Source: The Verge