AI-Generated Fake Videos Featuring Bulgarian Doctor Circulate on Social Media, Sparking Concerns
A series of AI-generated videos featuring the image of a popular Bulgarian doctor, Dr. Angel Kunchev, have been circulating on social media, promoting a “new formula cream too eliminate joint pain in just 3 days.” The online platform “We the Consumers” has issued a warning, urging people not to trust these advertisements and has already requested their removal.
The videos, which mimic a live TV interview, show Dr. Kunchev—an epidemiologist by profession—claiming that the cream “begins to repair the damaged joint from the inside” and has already garnered “over 100,000 satisfied customers from Bulgaria.” He further states, “Apply this cream just once a day, as indicated in the instructions, and you will forever forget about arthritis, osteoarthritis, acute pain, stiffness, and swelling.”
The video, posted on the Updates Realm Facebook page on January 7, has amassed over 342,000 views. Though, the page itself raises red flags: it is indeed registered under the “Properties” category, has onyl 10 followers, and no other posts. This strategic move ensures the video does not remain in the page archive, making it harder to trace through keyword searches.
The Mechanics Behind the Scam
The video’s distribution appears to be part of a “warm-up campaign” designed to generate interest in an unknown product. While no active order links, prices, or product names are displayed, a faint watermark reading “boriao shop” can be seen. This watermark, however, does not correspond to any known online entity.Facebook’s algorithms further complicate the issue. Once users engage with the video, they are soon shown similar content. For instance, another video posted on January 10, mimicking a news interview, features an AI-generated Dr.Kunchev warning viewers about the “severe side effects of pills,” claiming they “will send you to the grave faster then any arthritis or osteoporosis.”
How to Spot the Fake Videos
The videos exhibit several telltale signs of being AI-generated:
- Lip-sync discrepancies: The movement of the lips does not perfectly match the spoken text.
- Incorrect accents: Words are pronounced with unnatural emphasis.
- Poor editing: The doctor’s image is poorly integrated into the video, partially obscuring the journalist.
| Key Indicators of Fake videos |
|———————————–|
| Lip-sync mismatches |
| Unnatural pronunciation |
| Poor image integration |
The Broader Implications
This incident highlights the growing sophistication of AI-generated content and its potential misuse. As platforms like Facebook continue to struggle with moderating such content, users are advised to remain vigilant. “We the Consumers” has taken a proactive stance,but the battle against misinformation is far from over.
For now, the purpose of these videos remains unclear. Whether they are part of a larger scam or a test run for future campaigns, one thing is certain: the rise of AI-generated content poses important challenges for both consumers and regulators.
Stay informed and always verify the authenticity of online content before engaging with it. If you encounter suspicious videos, report them instantly to help curb the spread of misinformation.
