Summary: A video advertisement posted on Facebook features TVC News reporter Oluwakemi Fola Adeyemo presenting a report about popular Nigerian footballer Victor Osimhen endorsing the 1Be Casino betting app. The video is manipulated using advanced AI technology, and therefore, it is false.
Story: The video advertisement showcases TVC News reporter Adeyemo presenting a report on the alleged genuineness of the 1Be Casino betting app, with Osimhen endorsing it and claiming it can make Nigerians rich and change their lives. The advertisement video also features a man named Abubakar, who attests to the app’s success, saying he got a car after playing for two weeks.
In the video, Adeyemo said, “Victor Osimhen has become the official sponsor of an official mobile application that allows Nigerians to become successful. The app has created a huge sensation and has broken all download records.”
In the same promo, Victor Osimhen was also heard saying, “Thanks to our app, every Nigerian can become very rich and change their lives. Our developers have specifically made it so that everyone can have a 98 percent chance of winning. Let this be a gift to my home country. I’m very happy that I can help people realize their dreams”.
The video, first posted by Oun Lyka on Facebook, has received 605 likes and been shared by 10 people to their personal accounts, potentially reaching thousands of people.
A detailed analysis revealed that the video was manipulated using AI technologies like deepfake by a gambling company to deceive Nigerians, falsely promoting quick-wealth promises through fabricated endorsements from recognizable figures, thus misleading viewers.
Verification:
A frame-by-frame analysis of the video was done using InVid to determine its authenticity.
Analysis of the video advertisement revealed unnatural lip-sync patterns and distortions around the faces of Oluwakemi Fola Adeyemo, Victor Osimhen, and Abubakar, indicating digital alteration. The use of advanced AI technology to seamlessly alter the original broadcast suggests that the ad is not a genuine endorsement from the individuals featured.
It was found that the original, unedited video was first posted by TVC News on YouTube. Using Google Lens on the reporter’s image from the altered video, a similar image of her appeared. Multiple matching images helped identify her name, which was then used to find the exact video that was manipulated.
The original video was first published by TVC news on September 22, 2023.
Also, TVC has already published the news that debunks any endorsement of Casino betting sites by them. In the disclaimer published by TVC News in June 2023, they stated, “We wish to state categorically that TVC News does not engage in or endorse any form of lottery, mobile casino apps, or any offers related to Ponzi schemes.”
Verdict: The advertisement featuring TVC News reporter and Victor Osimhen endorsing a betting game app is false. The video was manipulated and used digital alteration to create a false endorsement.
The use of AI technology to falsify endorsements from trusted figures, combined with the lack of credible backing and TVC’s refutation, indicates this is a misleading ad designed to deceive viewers.
This case highlights the growing threat of digital manipulation. Viewers should be cautious of such ads that use familiar faces and trusted sources to promote potentially deceptive products. Also, this serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of digital manipulation and fake endorsements, as it underscores the importance of fact-checking and verifying information before believing or sharing content online.
It also calls for the need for stricter regulations and enforcement against misleading advertising practices in the digital age.
This verification has been produced with support from BO Foundation for Inclusive Media (BOFIM) and WITNESS.