Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene has warned the public about fraudulent advertisements circulating on social media that misuse his image and voice to promote fake financial schemes.
Jayawardene said the advertisements were entirely fabricated using artificial intelligence, urging people not to fall victim to such scams.
“Please do not believe these things. I am not involved in any investment or financial promotion. These videos were created using AI to mislead people,” he said.
He explained that scammers have used AI-generated visuals and voice cloning to closely mimic his appearance and speech, making the content appear authentic. The videos, he said, are designed to trick the public into investing money in fraudulent financial schemes.
Jayawardene is the latest Sri Lankan sportsperson to be targeted in such scams. Former national cricket captains Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya had earlier issued similar warnings after AI-generated videos using their likenesses were circulated to promote fake investment opportunities.
Authorities and cybersecurity experts have advised the public to remain vigilant and watch for common indicators of AI-generated scam content, including:
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Promises of unusually high or guaranteed returns
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Pressure to invest quickly or messages urging immediate action
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Requests for personal, banking or OTP details
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Links directing users to unofficial websites or private messaging apps
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Videos featuring celebrities without confirmation from official sources
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Lip-sync issues, unnatural facial movements or inconsistent voice tones
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Claims not reported by credible or verified news outlets
The public is urged to verify information through official channels, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and report such content to social media platforms and relevant authorities.
