Italian financial consultant Salvatore Gaziano obtained an urgent court order against Meta after the spread of fake ads with his face and voice. The court demanded the removal of materials associated with the deception and the adoption of measures against their reappearance.

According to Corriere della Sera, there are about 5800 fraudulent ads. The criminals used the reputation of a real specialist to invite Facebook and Instagram users to investment groups on WhatsApp. With the help of artificial intelligence, they reproduced his appearance and voice, creating the impression that the recommendations came from the consultant himself.

Gaziano and his company SoldiExpert SCF state that they have no connection to such groups and do not offer investment deals to strangers via WhatsApp. The recognizable face in the ad served as a lure: further communication took place in chats managed by scammers.

According to SoldiExpert's published description of the case, on October 29, the court of La Spezia issued an urgent interim injunction against Meta Platforms Ireland. It provides for the cessation of distribution of content illegally using Gaziano's name, image and voice, the removal of ads, pages and associated WhatsApp channels mentioned in the complaints, and filtering to prevent the republishing of disputed materials.

The latter requirement distinguishes the order from the usual removal of individual ads. As the consultant himself explains, after complaints some publications disappeared, but new ones appeared in their place. The judicial measure is also aimed at preventing such repeated distribution.

In his published story, Gaziano describes several ways in which such groups profit from the trust of investors. One of them is artificially inflating the price of low-liquidity stocks and then selling, known as pump and dump. Participants are convinced to buy a specific stock simultaneously, and the organizers use the increase in demand to sell their own shares.

In such a scenario, an investor may purchase real securities through their regular broker. The false element is the identity of the adviser, and the presence of a real stock and a familiar trading account does not by itself protect against manipulation.

The order does not yet conclude the legal dispute. According to SoldiExpert, it was issued without prior hearing of Meta's position. A hearing with the participation of the parties is scheduled for December 10: the interim measure may be confirmed, modified, or revoked. It is an interim measure, not a final decision on the dispute about damages.

Gaziano himself warns that fake ads and groups may continue to appear. To verify an investment offer, the company recommends contacting its official channels. A recognizable face and voice in a video do not confirm that the specialist actually offers these investments.

Based on materials from: Corriere della Sera, SoldiExpert SCF — description of the case and fraud schemes, SoldiExpert SCF — warning for investors