Beware of fraudulent TikTok ads that use Taylor Swift and Rihanna deepfakes

Neither Taylor Swift nor Kim Kardashian promotes a system that allows TikTok users to earn money by reviewing videos.

An investigation by Copyleaks, a plagiarism-detection platform, has uncovered a cluster of TikTok ads that use deepfakes of celebrities like Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, and Rihanna to promote potentially fraudulent or malicious services.

The deepfakes include both video and audio, and use textured filters that the investigators say are meant to mask the flaws of the AI-generated visuals.

For instance, fake Kim Kardashian and Rihanna are seen as if they were being interviewed by the media and promoting video reviewing systems, which are said to allow TikTok users to earn money.

“You literally just watch content and give your opinion,” Rihanna’s deepfake says.

Meanwhile, a fake Swift, who appears to be speaking at a talk show, claims she found a feature called TikTok Pay, and urges viewers to sign up without overthinking.

When the ad is clicked on, the user is redirected to a third-party service that uses TikTok branding and appears to be vibecoded. The user is then prompted to enter their name and personal information.

These ads are part of a broader trend of scam ads on social media, which are increasingly realistic due to widespread access to generative AI.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) data reveals that in 2025, people lost a staggering $2.1 billion in scams that started on social media, an eightfold increase since 2020.

Most of the scams started on Facebook, which comes as no surprise, given that around 10% of Meta’s total revenue in 2024 came from misleading adverts and ads for illegal products on Instagram and Facebook, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, celebrities who are common targets of deepfakes used for fraud, political endorsement, and pornography are trying to fight back.

Swift has recently filed trademark applications for two audio clips and one image of herself in an effort to protect her voice and likeness from being exploited by deepfakes.

Here’s how to spot a deepfake ad

According to Copyleaks, there are multiple steps that social media users can take to spot a deepfake video:

• Look for unnatural physical details, especially in motion – watch for odd eye movement, facial asymmetry, and unrealistic hands or proportions.
• Listen for audio mismatches – check for poor lip sync, unnatural pacing, or a flat, robotic tone.
• Check backgrounds and context. Don’t trust the video if you see flickering edges, a warped or “melting” background, or inconsistent lighting.
• Verify against real sources by comparing the content with known footage, past interviews, and public statements.

Most importantly, it’s very unlikely for a superstar like Swift or Rihanna to promote an easy way to earn money online. If an ad sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

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