SOURCE: Jim Kreidler, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

Before you spend money on that celebrity-endorsed premium cookware, weight loss product, or can’t-miss money-making opportunity, pause. Take a breath. Are you sure a celebrity or influencer is really endorsing that product or program? Maybe a scammer is behind that online ad. Scammers are using fake celebrity and influencer testimonials and endorsements — complete with doctored video and audio that seems like the real thing — to generate buzz and profits.

“But it looks and sounds real, so it must be true,” right? Not so much. The technology to make fake endorsement videos is improving all the time. Your best bet is to do some research on your own. Before you click and buy, follow this advice:

• Check out that celebrity or influencer testimonial. Search online using their name, the name of the company or product, and words like “scam” or “fake.” See what others are saying.
• Resist pressure to commit quickly. Scammers want you to act fast, and the ad might say it’s a limited-time deal. But it’s not true. They just don’t want you to do any research or think it through.
• Ask your healthcare professional about dietary supplements. The  government doesn’t review or evaluate supplements for safety or effectiveness before they’re put on the market. Even a natural supplement can be risky depending on your health and the medicine you take, and your doctor knows your health better than a celebrity.
• Know the investment risk. If anyone says you can earn a lot of money on an investment with little or no risk, don’t buy into the hype. Investments always involve risk — there are no guaranteed returns. Visit  Investor.gov, a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website, for more advice on investing and avoiding fraud.

Have you spotted a bogus celebrity endorsement?  Report it to the FTC.