Scammers use local actor Gurmit Singh's face in fake ad

Singaporean actor Gurmit Singh has alerted netizens that scammers have used his face in a fake advertisement. 

The ad featured a screen grab supposedly from CNA with a line stating that there was a scandal of "global proportions". It went on to read, "He made an important statement. Now he's lost his career." The ad then encouraged netizens to click on it to learn more. 

The picture used was reportedly from a 2019 interview Singh did with Asian entertainment publication 8days.

Singh reposted the screen grab on his Instagram page saying, "Hey everyone. This is circulating and it’s all a lie. Just be careful not to click on anything because they are scammers."

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This latest attempt by scammers comes shortly after Singh took to social media in March 2022 to share news of a similar incident. In it, Singh's face was used alongside a caption that read: "A scandal that shocked everyone".

Singh told netizens at the time not to bother if they saw the ad as it was "another one of those scammer ideas to get you to buy something using my photo without my permission."

Beyond scammers, companies have also been known to illegally use the faces of celebrities to drum up hype for events and products, often, without their consent. 

Earlier this year, drone racing and sports company D1 Racing found itself in hot water not just for the police reports being filed against the company, but also for allegedly using images of local DJ and local celebrity Jade Rasif without her consent.

The party, which was due to take place on Siloso Beach, was set to feature famous DJs such as Rasif alongside Rave Republic and Simon Patterson. However, it was reported by The Straits Times that Rasif only found out about her involvement via D1 Racing’s Facebook advertisement. She then asked the organisers for payment and confirmation that it had all the necessary documents and licences for the event. Rasif also reportedly asked D1 Racing to stop using her images in their advertisements until she received her deposit.

However, upon finding inaccuracies in D1 Racing’s contract, Rasif allegedly pulled out. This then led to organiser D1 Racing e-mailing ticket holders to say that the party would be cancelled because Rasif and her replacement, Amber Na, could not perform that night.

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