Elon and Oprah arent endorsing those weight-loss pills

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Fraudulent online advertisements have increasingly used the names, images, and fabricated endorsements of celebrities to promote dubious investment schemes, miracle health products, and fake giveaways.

• High-profile figures including Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, Kelly Clarkson, and Martin Lewis have publicly warned consumers that they never endorsed the products or services featured in the ads.

• Experts say advances in artificial intelligence and deepfake technology have made celebrity impersonation more convincing, contributing to billions of dollars in consumer losses worldwide.

While its true that some celebrities are influencers, you cant believe every pitch that claims to be a celebrity endorsement. Scroll through social media or browse the web, and youll find many familiar names and faces promoting investment opportunities, health supplements, weight-loss products, and other offers.

The problem is that many of those endorsements are entirely fabricated.

Most recently, debunking site Snopes exposed a ruse in which Bill Gates is hawking an Alzheimers cure. He most definitely is not.

Over the past several years, scammers have exploited the popularity and credibility of celebrities by creating fake advertisements that falsely suggest public figures support products or services they have never used or endorsed. In many cases, the ads use manipulated photographs, fabricated quotes, and, more recently, artificial intelligence-generated videos that appear authentic at first glance.

Elon is everywhere

Among the most frequently targeted celebrities is entrepreneur Elon Musk. Fraudsters have repeatedly used his image and likeness to promote cryptocurrency investments and trading platforms, often promising unrealistic returns. Regulators and consumer advocates have warned that many of these schemes are designed to steal money from unsuspecting investors.

Television personality Oprah Winfrey has also been the subject of numerous fraudulent advertisements. Her name has been attached to weight-loss products, dietary supplements, and miracle cures despite her repeated denials of any involvement. Similar have falsely claimed endorsements from television personalities Dr. Phil and Shark Tank investors.

In the United Kingdom, financial journalist Martin Lewis has become one of the most prominent victims of endorsement fraud. Scammers have repeatedly used his image and fabricated testimonials to promote bogus investment opportunities. Lewis has successfully pursued legal action against technology companies and has been a leading advocate for stronger measures to combat online fraud.

Tom Hanks warns fans

Hollywood actor Tom Hanks publicly warned fans after scammers circulated advertisements featuring an AI-generated version of his likeness promoting products he had never approved.

Likewise, actress and singer Kelly Clarkson has spoken out against fake weight-loss advertisements using manipulated images and fabricated quotes.

Other celebrities whose identities have been exploited include Taylor Swift, Keanu Reeves, Gordon Ramsay, Jennifer Aniston, George Clooney, and former television personalities such as Dr. Mehmet Oz. In many cases, the advertisements direct consumers to fake news websites designed to mimic legitimate media outlets, lending an appearance of credibility to false claims.

Familiar pattern

Consumer protection agencies say the often follow a familiar pattern. An advertisement claims that a celebrity has discovered a secret investment strategy, a breakthrough medical treatment, or a revolutionary supplement. Consumers are then encouraged to click through to a website that requests personal information, payment details, or an investment deposit.

The rise of generative artificial intelligence has made the problem significantly worse. Deepfake videos can now convincingly imitate a celebrity's voice and appearance, making it more difficult for consumers to distinguish legitimate endorsements from fraudulent ones. Cybersecurity experts warn that the technology is evolving faster than many platforms' ability to detect and remove deceptive content.

Major technology companies have pledged to strengthen enforcement efforts, but fraudulent advertisements continue to appear across social media platforms, search engines, and websites. Critics argue that scammers can create new accounts and advertisements faster than platforms can remove them.

Consumer advocates recommend that individuals treat celebrity endorsements with skepticism, especially when advertisements promise extraordinary financial returns, rapid weight loss, or miracle health benefits. Experts advise verifying endorsements through official celebrity websites or social media accounts and researching companies independently before making purchases or investments.

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape digital advertising, regulators, technology companies, and consumers face growing pressure to combat a form of fraud that increasingly blurs the line between reality and deception.

People are saving but are uncertain about the future

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Fewer than six in 10 Americans believe they are building a large enough nest egg for retirement, according to a new Transamerica Institute report.

• Despite modest gains in retirement savings since the pandemic, confidence in achieving a comfortable retirement has remained unchanged.

• Concerns about Social Security, healthcare costs, and outliving savings continue to weigh heavily on workers and retirees alike.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, which created economic turmoil, Americans have litle progress toward achieving retirement security. Thats the conclusion of a new report from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies and Transamerica Institute.

The findings suggest that while more people are saving for retirement, many remain uncertain about their financial future.

The report, Life and Money: Retirement Security in the USA, analyzed retirement trends from 2020 through 2025 and found what researchers described as "lackluster" improvements in key measures of retirement readiness. The study is based on surveys of more than 60,000 Americans conducted over the five years.

One of the report's central findings is that only 59% of Americans believe they are currently buildingor have already builta retirement nest egg large enough to meet their future needs. While that represents a slight improvement from 55% in 2020, researchers say it is far from a sign that retirement security has substantially improved.

Retirement confidence has barely budged. Two-thirds of Americans, 66%, say they are confident they will be able to retire comfortably, the same percentage recorded at the height of the pandemic in 2020. Only about one in five respondents describe themselves as "very confident."

However, some encouraging signs

The study found some encouraging signs. Among workers who have not yet retired, the percentage saving for retirement increased from 65% to 69% over the five-year period. Median household retirement savings also rose, increasing from $44,000 in 2020 to $56,000 in 2025. Even so, researchers caution that those gains may not be enough to offset higher living costs and longer life expectancies.

Many Americans remain deeply worried about retirement. The survey found that 62% believe they could work throughout their careers and still fail to save enough for retirement. Respondents cited rising living expenses, economic uncertainty, and concerns about the future of Social Security as major obstacles to long-term financial security.

Health-related concerns loom especially large. Americans' top retirement fear is declining health that requires long-term care, followed closely by concerns that Social Security benefits could be reduced in the future. Many also worry about outliving their savings, losing their independence, or facing healthcare expenses they cannot afford.

Growing challenges

The report arrives as policymakers face growing pressure to address the long-term financing challenges confronting Social Security and Medicare. Catherine Collinson, CEO and president of Transamerica Institute and the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, said maintaining those programs will be critical to improving retirement outcomes for future generations.

Researchers concluded that retirement security remains a work in progress. While Americans have demonstrated resilience by continuing to save despite economic disruptions, the pace of improvement has been slow, leaving millions uncertain about whether they will have enough money to sustain themselves in retirement.

An investigation finds 25% of packaged food exceeds safe levels

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• A joint investigation by Consumer Reports and the food-scanning app Yuka found that one in four popular packaged foods contained additive levels that exceeded safety thresholds established by experts.

• Researchers tested 40 widely consumed products and found elevated levels of controversial additives and contaminants in snacks, drinks, and other processed foods.

• Health experts say consumers can reduce exposure by choosing less-processed foods, reading ingredient labels, and using product-scanning tools to identify additives of concern.

When Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., became Secretary of Health and Human Services, federal regulators began to take a closer look at the health of the U.S. food supply. Among the first steps the agency took was to target certain food dyes.

However, a new investigation by Consumer Reports and Yuka is suggesting that there is a lot more work to do. The results aredrawing attention to the sheer number of additives found in the U.S. food supply and raising concerns about whether current regulations adequately protect consumers.

The investigation examined 40 popular packaged food products sold in the United States and measured levels of eight controversial food additives. Researchers found that approximately 25% of the products contained additive levels that exceeded what experts consider safe daily intake levels over a lifetime. When contaminants were included, more than one-third of the products exceeded recommended thresholds.

A wide range of food products

Among the products cited in the investigation were popular snacks, candies, flavored drinks, and processed foods marketed to both adults and children. Investigators reported finding elevated levels of additives such as synthetic food dyes, preservatives, and other ingredients that have been linked in scientific studies to potential health concerns, including behavioral effects in children, DNA damage, and increased cancer risk.

The findings align with longstanding concerns among food safety advocates about differences between U.S. regulations and those in other countries. Many additives permitted in American foods face stricter limits overseas, while some ingredients allowed in the United States have been banned or heavily restricted in Europe.

Yuka's broader analysis of more than 1 million food products found that foods sold in the United States contain significantly more additives, on average, than comparable products sold in several other developed countries. The company attributes the disparity to a regulatory system that often allows manufacturers considerable discretion in the use of additives.

Consumer advocates have also criticized the Food and Drug Administration's Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) framework, which allows some ingredients to enter the food supply without formal FDA approval if manufacturers determine they are safe under intended conditions of use.

Food manufacturers and industry groups maintain that approved additives are safe when used within regulatory limits and that additives play important roles in preserving food quality, extending shelf life, and ensuring product consistency.

How consumers can reduce their exposure

While nutritionists emphasize that consumers do not need to eliminate all processed foods from their diets, they recommend several practical steps to reduce exposure to additives:

• Choose whole and minimally processed foods. Fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and unprocessed meats typically contain few or no added chemicals.

• Read ingredient labels. Products with shorter ingredient lists often contain fewer additives. Consumers can look for foods that avoid artificial colors, preservatives, and sweeteners when possible.

• Limit highly processed snacks and beverages. Many of the products identified in the investigation fall into the ultra-processed category, which has been associated with poorer health outcomes in multiple studies.

• Diversify food choices. Regularly rotating foods can help reduce repeated exposure to any single additive or contaminant.

The findings arrive amid growing public scrutiny of food additives and increasing pressure on regulators to revisit decades-old safety assessments. Several states have already moved to restrict certain food dyes and additives, while the FDA has announced efforts to phase out several petroleum-based synthetic food dyes from the U.S. food supply.

For consumers, the investigation serves as a reminder that the most effective way to reduce exposure to additives may be the simplest: building more meals around whole foods and relying less on heavily processed products.

The used-car tricks that can cost buyers thousands

• Used-car are on the rise, with odometer rollbacks, flood-damaged vehicles, title washing, and fake online listings costing buyers thousands.

• Major red flags include sellers who refuse inspections, can't provide service records, or pressure you to act quickly.

• Protect yourself with a vehicle history report, a mechanic's inspection and diagnostic scan, and by never sending money before seeing the car in person.

With new vehicle prices still painfully high, millions of Americans have turned to the used-car market hoping to save money.

Unfortunately, scammers have noticed. From rolled-back odometers and flood-damaged vehicles to fake online listings and washed titles, today's used-car are becoming increasingly sophisticated. And thanks to modern technology, some forms of fraud are actually becoming easier to pull off.

The good news? Experts say buyers can protect themselves if they know what warning signs to look for before handing over any money.

"The biggest red flags are usually information gaps," said Cole Reiken, Managing Director of BlueDriver. "A seller who can't produce service records, rushes the transaction, or resists a pre-purchase inspection is telling you something."

Here's what consumers need to know before buying their next used vehicle.

If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is

One of the most common mistakes shoppers make is becoming fixated on price.

A vehicle that is significantly cheaper than similar cars with comparable mileage (and condition) should immediately raise a red flag in your head.

According to Reiken, there is almost always a reason for a large pricing discrepancy. "The gap between price and reality almost always has an explanation, and it's rarely a good one for the buyer," he said.

While everyone wants a bargain, an unusually low price could signal hidden mechanical issues, accident damage, title problems, or outright fraud.

Pro tip: If you're buying from a private seller, suggest meeting at an independent repair shops parking lot. A legitimate seller usually won't mind, while a scammer often suddenly becomes unavailable. Plus, you can immediately get a pre-purchase inspection if the vehicle passes your initial review.

Odometer fraud is becoming a bigger problem

One scam that experts are watching closely is odometer rollback fraud.

According to a CARFAX report released in late 2025, approximately 2.45 million vehicles currently on U.S. roads are suspected of having rolled-back odometers, a 14% increase from the previous year.

The financial impact can be significant, as mileage remains one of the most important factors affecting a vehicle's value. By reducing the displayed mileage, scammers can instantly make a vehicle appear worth thousands of dollars more than it actually is.

The bigger problem is that buyers often inherit years of hidden wear and tear. A vehicle showing 80,000 miles may have actually traveled well over 120,000 miles, meaning expensive repairs could be waiting just around the corner.

Pro tip: According to Reiken, One of the most effective ways to catch an odometer discrepancy is a diagnostic scan. This scan can be done by a dealer, an independent mechanic, or even by some popular after-market scanning tools like Blue Driver or OBDelevan.

A vehicle history report is only the starting point

Most experts agree that every used-car purchase should begin with a vehicle history report from services such as Carfax or AutoCheck.

These reports can reveal:

• Accident history
• Title changes
• Service records
• Previous ownership
• Reported mileage

But Reiken cautions consumers against treating them as the final word. "History reports are worth every dollar, but they're only as complete as the data that's been submitted," he said.

In other words, missing information doesn't necessarily mean the vehicle is clean. A history report should be viewed as the first step, not the last.

Flood-damaged vehicles can be surprisingly hard to spot

Flood-damaged vehicles continue to create headaches for used-car buyers, particularly after major storms and hurricanes.

Some of the major warning signs are relatively easy to spot:

• Musty or mildew odors
• Water stains under seats
• Mud residue in the trunk
• Rust in unusual locations
• Moisture trapped inside headlights or tail lights

But be aware that cosmetic repairs can often hide many of these clues. That's why experts recommend looking beyond just the vehicle's outward appearance.

According to Reiken, flood damage often creates electrical issues that may not become obvious until months later. If multiple electronic systems seem to be experiencing unrelated problems, that could be a warning sign that the vehicle was exposed to water.

Pro tip: Try to shop for a used car during daylight hours only. Scratches, paint mismatches, rust, water damage, body repairs, and tire wear are all much harder to spot after dark. And scammers love poor lighting because its easier to hide any flaws.

Beware of title washing

Another scam that many buyers have never heard of is called title washing. This happens when a vehicle with a salvage title, flood title, or other damage designation is transferred to another state and re-registered under a cleaner title history.

The result is a vehicle that appears normal on paper, all while concealing a troubled past.

Title washing isn't always easy to detect. But warning signs include inconsistent paperwork, missing records, or unexplained gaps in ownership. These should all prompt additional questions before you buy the car.

Pro tip: Ask to see the title before the test drive. Many buyers wait until they're ready to purchase before looking at the title. That's a mistake. Ask to see it immediately and make sure the seller's name matches their ID. Proceed with caution if they're "selling it for a friend" or the title isn't in their name.

Online vehicle are exploding

The rise of online marketplaces has made shopping for used vehicles easier than ever.

Unfortunately, it has also created new opportunities for fraudsters to do their work. Scammers will frequently create convincing vehicle listings for cars they don't actually own.

Their goal is to collect a deposit from you and then disappear into thin air.

Common warning signs to look for include:

• Requests for wire transfers
• Pressure to send money quickly
• Claims that the seller is out of town
• Refusal to meet in person
• Excuses preventing a vehicle inspection

"If a seller won't let you see the vehicle before payment, walk away," Reiken said. No legitimate deal is worth taking that risk.

New research finds consumers are increasingly willing to trust AI agents with buying decisions even if it means switching from their favorite brands

• Brand loyalty may be changing: More than one-third (37%) of loyal shoppers say they would let an AI agent recommend a different brand if it found a product that better fits their needs.

• Consumers are growing comfortable with AI shopping assistants: Nearly three-quarters (74%) of people surveyed said they're open to AI helping with shopping tasks, and the same percentage said they'd trust an AI agent more than a friend to make a purchase recommendation.

• AI could help shoppers save time and money: Experts say AI can compare products, prices, and value more effectively than most consumers can on their own, helping people make smarter purchasing decisions.

For years, brand loyalty has been one of the most valuable assets a company could have. Many shoppers stick with the same products, stores, and brands they know and trust. But a new study from Accenture suggests that may be starting to change as artificial intelligence becomes more involved in everyday purchasing decisions.

The global survey found that consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable letting AI help them shop, compare products, and even make final recommendations. In fact, 37% of shoppers who typically stay loyal to a small group of preferred brands said they would be willing to let an AI agent switch them to a different brand if it found a better option.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Accenture's Oliver Wright, global lead of consumer industries, who explained how AI-powered shopping assistants could reshape the relationship between consumers and brands, creating new opportunities while also challenging companies to earn the trust of both shoppers and the algorithms that increasingly influence their decisions.

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Trusting AI

The survey suggests that consumers are becoming surprisingly comfortable with the idea of AI playing a larger role in their shopping decisions. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of respondents said they are open to using an AI agent to complete shopping-related tasks on their behalf, such as researching products, comparing options, or making recommendations.

Trust in AI is also growing. In one of the study's most eye-catching findings, 74% of consumers said they would trust a personal AI agent more than their best friend when it comes to making a purchase on their behalf.

Consumers will continue to ask friends and family for their thoughts on what, where and when to buy, the difference is who will they most depend on for the actual decisions they take, Wright said. Why? Because AI is able to convey responses that are truly the best researched, and it explains the answer in a way that is most relatable for the consumer, even better than the consumers friends.

Letting AI make the decisions

The study also found that nearly one-third (32%) of respondents would allow an AI agent to make the final purchasing decision for them, as long as it stayed within limits they set, such as budget, preferred brands, or product features.

Perhaps most notably, AI's influence appears poised to grow rapidly. More than seven in 10 consumers (71%) believe that at least half of their spending in a given category will be influenced by AI over the next year.

The findings suggest that shoppers increasingly view AI not just as a tool for gathering information, but as a trusted advisor that can help simplify purchasing decisions and identify products that best match their needs.

Driving better consumption

One of the key findings from the study: 37% of behaviorally loyal shoppers would let an AI agent switch them from their favorite brands for a better fit.

What does this mean for the everyday consumer who values consistency but wants the best value? Wright broke it down:

Our research suggests that AI will drive better consumption, period, he said. Consumers expect AI to help them make better choices whether that is by switching to a brand they havent tried before that actually meets their needs, or by buying a product at a location they havent thought of before.

Interestingly this will mean, on occasion, spending more, where AI recommends a product that, while more expensive in the short term, is far better over the full product lifecycle.

Using AI to save money

In addition to possibly altering brand loyalty, Wright says there are also ways for consumers to use AI to save money.

We have all been confronted with a row of detergent bottles in a grocery store of slightly different concentrations, pack appearances and effectiveness, even the cost per ounce fails to give consumers an accurate view of value, Wright said. AI solves that, making the true comparisons, doing the math, and cutting through the clutter to tell confused, time poor consumers the one to choose.

Similarly, when given a list, AI agents can direct a consumer where to shop (and for what) and outline the trade off of e-commerce versus in store. Dont underestimate the total value of this.