An AI-generated video falsely uses banking executive Mizinga Melu’s identity to promote a fraudulent investment scheme promising daily earnings of up to K5,000 from a K3,500 investment. iVerify Zambia identified multiple red flags, while Melu publicly disowned the video and warned the public against the scam.
The Claim
On 7 October 2026, a Facebook page called Blue Square Place published a video purportedly featuring banking executive Mizinga Melu promoting an investment scheme requiring participants to invest K3,500 in exchange for promised daily earnings of between K3,500 and K5,000. The video further claimed that the scheme was licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Zambia and guaranteed participants earnings of at least K28,000 per month.
Verdict: False
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia’s visual analysis identified several indicators that the video and the purported investment opportunity were fraudulent.
- Fictitious financial institutions: The video refers to “Zam National Bank”, a bank that iVerify Zambia could not identify as an operating financial institution in Zambia. At approximately the ninth second, the bank’s name changes to “Zambezi Bank”, another name that could not be verified as a legitimate financial institution in the country. These inconsistencies raise serious questions about the authenticity of the video.
- Unverified business identity: The video also refers to “Copperbelt Stores”. iVerify Zambia could not establish the identity of a legitimate business associated with the name as presented in the footage. The use of unverified business names further undermines the credibility of the purported investment scheme.
- Misleading website address: The video directs viewers to BREAKINGTODAY.LIVE, which leads to a website resembling that of Zambia Daily Mail Limited but uses a different web address. The official website of Zambia Daily Mail is https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/. The similarity in appearance could mislead users into believing that the investment promotion is associated with a legitimate news organisation.
- Deceptive website functionality: iVerify Zambia’s examination of the website found that clicking on its icons redirected users to a purported investment registration form rather than to the information suggested by the icons. This behaviour is inconsistent with the normal functionality of a news website and raises further concerns about the site’s purpose.
- Signs of AI-generated footage: The video contains visual and contextual inconsistencies that raise concerns about its authenticity and suggest the use of AI-generated or manipulated footage to impersonate Mizinga Melu. These indicators should be considered alongside the other evidence rather than as standalone proof of how the video was produced.
- Pressure to invest quickly: The video urges viewers not to waste time and to click on the provided link. Such calls to immediate action are common in online scams, where urgency can discourage people from independently checking an offer before sending money or sharing personal information.
Mizinga Melu statement disowning the video
The findings are further supported by a public statement attributed to Mizinga Melu on her official Facebook page, in which she warned the public that the video was fraudulent. According to the statement, the footage was AI-generated and used her name and likeness without authorisation to promote a fraudulent investment scheme. Melu distanced herself from the purported opportunity, stating that she had neither endorsed nor been associated with it. She also urged the public not to send money, disclose personal information or click on links associated with the video. She encouraged people to report the content to the relevant authorities and share her warning to help protect others from falling victim to the scheme.
Evidence: Mizinga Melu’s Facebook statement
Claims of Regulatory Approval Remain Unsubstantiated
The video claims that the investment scheme is licensed by SEC Zambia and that investors’ funds are protected. However, the video provides no independently verified evidence to substantiate these assurances. A claim of regulatory approval should not be accepted at face value. Anyone considering an investment should independently confirm the provider’s identity, authorisation and regulatory status directly with the relevant authorities before committing funds.
Conclusion
The claim that Mizinga Melu is promoting the advertised investment scheme is false. The video contains multiple indicators of fraud, including inconsistent financial institution names, an unverified business identity, a misleading website and a registration process that directs users towards the purported investment offer. Melu’s public warning further supports the conclusion that the promotion is unauthorised.
The case illustrates how AI-generated and manipulated media can be used to impersonate trusted individuals and lend false credibility to fraudulent investment schemes. Promises of unusually high returns, claims of guaranteed earnings and pressure to act quickly should all prompt caution.
In an increasingly sophisticated digital environment, seeing or hearing a familiar person in a video is not, on its own, proof that the person genuinely made the statement or endorsed the product. Before investing, verify the source, check regulatory authorisation independently and avoid sending money or sharing sensitive information through suspicious links.
Help Stop the Spread of Misinformation
Before sharing public affairs information or acting on online investment promotions, verify whether the information comes from credible and official sources. If you encounter suspicious claims, images or videos, submit them to iVerify Zambia for verification.
- Email: factcheck@panos.org.zm
- WhatsApp: +260 762 974 750
Together, we can reduce the spread of misinformation and disinformation, promote access to accurate and verified information, and protect the integrity of public discourse.
