BREAKING: Al Roker ISSUES Terrifying Warning after falling victim to S.C.A.M

TODAY -- Pictured: Al Roker on Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Al Roker, the beloved Today show weatherman and longtime NBC anchor, has become the latest high-profile victim of a disturbing AI deepfake scam that’s sending shockwaves through the entertainment world. The 70-year-old broadcaster revealed on The Third Hour of Today that his likeness was stolen and used in a fake online video promoting a bogus hypertension cure, falsely claiming that he had suffered “two heart attacks.” The convincing clip, which spread rapidly on Facebook before being removed, showed a near-perfect digital version of Roker — speaking in his voice and mimicking his expressions — to sell fraudulent health products.

Roker, who has been open about his real-life health struggles, was blindsided when a friend sent him the video asking if it was legitimate. “I clicked on it, and there I was, talking about having a couple of heart attacks,” he explained. “I don’t have hypertension! It looks like me, it sounds like me — but it’s not me.” The Today star emphasized how realistic the fake was, warning viewers how easily such scams can deceive even the most careful audiences.

Alongside investigative correspondent Vicky Nguyen, Roker unpacked how quickly the deepfake was made and the dangerous rise of AI-generated misinformation. Nguyen even created a fake video of herself using free online tools to demonstrate how accessible — and frightening — the technology has become. “It’s one of the biggest online threats today,” cybersecurity expert Yoav Keren, CEO of BrandShield, told the show. “Most consumers don’t understand how easily their trust can be exploited.”

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Roker, visibly shaken but composed, described the experience as “frightening.” “We used to say ‘seeing is believing,’” he told co-hosts Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer. “Well, that’s out the window now.” His colleagues agreed, noting that with the rapid advancement of AI, these scams could soon become nearly indistinguishable from reality — posing real risks for celebrities, journalists, and ordinary users alike.

Meta confirmed that it removed the page responsible for spreading the video, citing policy violations. Yet experts say the damage of such deepfakes often lingers long after deletion, as copies continue to circulate across lesser-known platforms. Roker joins a growing list of stars — including Oprah Winfrey, Taylor Swift, Tom Hanks, and Brad Pitt — whose images have been manipulated for fraudulent advertising campaigns.

The Emmy-winning weatherman, who has spent over four decades building credibility and trust with viewers, is now urging the public to stay vigilant. “If something looks too real or too shocking, double-check before you share it,” he advised. “These scams don’t just damage reputations — they prey on people’s belief in what they see.”

For Roker, the chilling incident served as a wake-up call — a reminder that even the most trusted faces on television are no longer safe from digital deception. As he put it bluntly: “If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.”