$78 million reward on Elon Musk's head for diabetes cure, Facebook scam claims

Scammers are flooding Facebook with AI-generated videos claiming Elon Musk has discovered a cure for diabetes. These deepfakes show Musk and other personalities promoting a "simple 30-second fridge trick" that allegedly reverses diabetes, while warning that pharmaceutical companies have placed a $78 million bounty on Musk's head. The fraudulent ads, which have circulated since early February, ultimately direct users to purchase unproven supplements.
Engadget identified scores of Facebook pages running these scam advertisements, with many pages repeatedly posting dozens or even hundreds of variations. While individual ads are frequently removed, the pages typically remain active and simply launch new versions. Similar deepfakes featuring other public figures including Oprah Winfrey, former Senator Mitt Romney, and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have also appeared.

The deceptive ads follow a consistent pattern: they open with Fox News personalities discussing Musk's supposed breakthrough, followed by AI-manipulated video clips of Musk from podcasts or public appearances. The videos claim all that's needed is a "common fruit," "frozen lemon," or bizarrely, "a lemon and a pair of socks," but never reveal the actual "trick." Instead, viewers are directed to websites mimicking legitimate news outlets like Fox News or CNN.
These sites feature additional AI-generated videos, often including clips of Barbra O'Neill, an Australian naturopath banned from offering health services in her home country. After lengthy presentations, the sites finally offer "limited-time deals" on supplements with names like "Gluco Revive."

The FDA has explicitly warned consumers that "there are no dietary supplements that treat or cure diabetes." The agency notes that some supposedly "all-natural" diabetes products contain hidden active ingredients that could dangerously interact with prescription medications.
Despite violating multiple Meta policies regarding medical misinformation and AI-manipulated media, these scams have persisted for weeks. Meta told Engadget it was investigating the ads and taking action against the responsible pages.