Fake Sam Elliott ads drain lung patients of their savings

Online claims suggesting that veteran actor Sam Elliott is suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and endorsing a supposed treatment, have been exposed as part of a fraudulent advertising scheme that has cost victims hundreds of dollars.

The scam gained attention after reports surfaced in late 2025 of deceptive ads circulating on social media, particularly Facebook, falsely using Elliott’s name and likeness to promote a so-called lung remedy. The 81-year-old Landman star has not been diagnosed with COPD and has no connection to the advertised product.

One victim, Fran Wons, who lives with COPD, told Chicago 5 that she trusted the advertisement because it appeared to feature NBC News branding and included a fabricated story of Elliott recommending a cure developed by a doctor he allegedly knew. Believing the ad to be legitimate, Wons ordered the product at a listed price of $39.99, only to later discover unauthorised charges totaling nearly $300.

“I woke up the next morning and my account was drained,” Wons said, explaining that the charges quickly added up. Compounding the issue, she never received the promised medication. Instead, she was sent several bottles of unrelated dietary supplements marketed for blood sugar control and detoxification.

The advertisement was later confirmed to be entirely fake, created to mislead consumers into making purchases. Wons was eventually able to recover her money, a relief she said was critical given her limited monthly income.

Neither Sam Elliott nor the company behind the fraudulent sale has publicly commented on the incident. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, said it removed the deceptive ads after being alerted and shut down the accounts responsible for violating its business conduct policies.

In a statement, Meta said scammers frequently adapt their methods to avoid detection and noted that its teams have disabled nearly eight million accounts linked to scam operations since the start of 2025.

HOW TO AVOID CELEBRITY-ENDORSED SCAMS

Consumer advocates advise exercising caution when encountering celebrity-backed product claims online. One key step is verifying whether a public figure is genuinely affiliated with a product, which can typically be confirmed through official brand websites or verified social media accounts.

Experts also recommend researching the product itself to confirm its existence and legitimacy, as online searches often reveal warnings or complaints from other users.

For those who fall victim to scams, federal consumer protections are available. The Federal Trade Commission advises reporting fraud to law enforcement and consumer protection agencies to increase the chances of recovering lost funds.