Deepfake Video Targets Israeli Doctor in Fraud Scheme: “Serious Hoax”
In recent days, a disturbing deepfake video has circulated on social media, depicting a fictional assassination of Professor Raanan Berger, the esteemed head of the oncology department at Sheba Medical Center. The video purports to show the professor being shot moments before he was set to reveal a groundbreaking “wonder drug.”
Hospital Response
Sheba Medical Center has categorically denied the claims made in the video, stating that Professor Berger is alive, healthy, and unaware of any such interview. A statement from the hospital described the video as “a serious hoax that likely forms part of an extensive fraud campaign, disseminating false information to deceive and mislead the public.”
The Disturbing Content of the Video
The AI-generated footage features an unidentified figure sitting outside a café, who is shot by another masked individual at close range. Following this scene, a character resembling Yoni Levi, a presenter from Channel 12, appears to announce, “A devastating tragedy in Tel Aviv; the renowned doctor Raanan Berger was shot dead tonight on a café terrace in the heart of the city.” The segment continues with fabricated witness accounts and bizarre claims of a conspiracy involving the pharmaceutical mafia in Israel.
In the video, a virtual version of Professor Berger allegedly insists, “If you’re still buying medications from pharmacies, prepare for your funeral. The pharmaceutical industry is a dirty mafia. I’ve developed a solution that destroys their business. They are threatening me.”
Evidence of Fabrication
The subtitles in the video contain numerous spelling and grammatical errors, suggesting it may have been hastily created with deepfake technology. Sheba Medical Center reiterated that this video is entirely fictitious, and Professor Berger has never participated in any such narrative.
At the end of the video, viewers are directed to a fictitious article on “Israel Hayom,” which ostensibly covers the incident and leads to a sales pitch for a hypertension product from a company named Guardian Botanicals. This company has an extensive online presence through platforms like Amazon, Walmart, and eBay.
Broader Implications and Response
This incident is reminiscent of similar events reported in other countries, including a recent case involving false marketing claims and fraudulent scientific research allegedly tied to the same product. In light of this incident, an official statement from the University of Auckland noted that a fictitious article featuring a fabricated interview with a researcher from the institution had also surfaced, attributing similar false claims to them.
The Sheba Medical Center has filed a complaint with relevant authorities and is taking action to remove the misleading video. They expressed strong condemnation of such deceptions, highlighting the dangerous implications of deepfake technology in disseminating false narratives.
Call to Action
Sheba Medical Center urged the public to exercise skepticism towards suspicious content and to rely only on official and trustworthy sources for information. They reiterated that Professor Berger remains committed to his vital work for his patients and that no truth exists in the claims made in the deepfake video.
This alarming phenomenon marks a significant escalation in the misuse of deepfake technology and the spread of misinformation online, stressing the importance of critical media literacy in today’s digital age