A current phenomenon that is causing worrying waves is the misuse of well-known media logos and images of celebrities for fake news. The case of actor Jan Josef Liefers, whose photos were recently used for fraudulent Facebook ads, is a prime example of this disturbing practice.
The scam: Fake news under a false flag with a photo by Jan Josef Liefers
Fake advertising campaigns are not uncommon in the shadowy reaches of the Internet. The public's trust in well-known media brands and celebrities is often shamelessly exploited.
A current example is the misuse of the “Tagesschau” logo in advertisements that falsely claim that Jan Josef Liefers was sued for financial statements.
The catch: fake links and data collection
However, the real goal of these campaigns is to lure unsuspecting users to fraudulent sites. Instead of leading to legitimate messages, the links lead to registration pages whose goal is to collect personal information.
This underlines our constant warnings, as well as those from police and consumer advocates , to be careful with personal information.
The source: debunking fake photos
Upon closer inspection, it turns out that the photos used in the advertisements come from the ZDF program “Maybrit Illner” . The photos were taken out of their original context and placed in a completely new, misleading context.
Repeat offenders: More cases of abuse
The incident is not an isolated incident. Similar fraudulent advertising campaigns with the “Tagesschau” logo have already been linked Markus Lanz or Robert Habeck
The recurring fakes demonstrate a systematic pattern of attempting to feign credibility in order to lure unsuspecting victims.
Conclusion: vigilance and information are key
This case highlights the need to critically examine news and its sources. It's important to realize that not every message with a familiar face or logo is trustworthy.
Source: DPA
Are you interested in more information on this and other digital topics? Sign up for our Mimikama newsletter and discover our extensive range of media education . Stay informed, stay safe!
You may also be interested in the following articles:
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )