Scammers are stealing videos from Black creators, using AI-generated or AI-altered faces, and adding fake racist comments to trick people into buying blankets from fraudulent online stores. These schemes exploit Black identity and trauma, mislead consumers, and undermine real Black-owned businesses.
This page is a community tool. If you come across one of these blanket scam websites or videos, you can use the information and email template below to report them to the companies that may be hosting their payments or web services.
How to use this page
- Copy the email template in the next section.
- Replace [ADD WEBSITE HERE] with the scam website you found.
- Send the email to any of the reporting contacts listed below that seem relevant.
- If you have time, also submit a report to the FTC using the link on this page.
You do not have to use every contact. Even one report helps.
Possible reporting contacts
These addresses and links are commonly used to report suspicious or fraudulent online activity. They are provided as community resources; people should choose whichever reporting method feels appropriate.
Shopify
safety@shopify.com
PayPal
phishing@paypal.com
Stripe
support@stripe.com
Cloudflare
abuse@cloudflare.com
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
You can also include the text below the email template in the “Describe what happened” box on the FTC site.
Copy-and-paste email template
You can use the following text to report a scam blanket website to a payment processor, platform, or hosting service. Edit it as needed so it reflects what you personally saw.
Subject: Report of Fraudulent Ecommerce Store Using Stolen Videos and AI-Generated Impersonations
Hello,
I am reporting a website that appears to be using stolen videos, AI-generated or AI-altered faces, and fabricated racist narratives to manipulate people into buying blankets under false pretenses. These videos often show real people who never consented to having their likeness used. Other videos use AI-generated people designed to look Black and distressed. The posts may include fake racist comments to provoke sympathy and pressure viewers into making purchases.
This behavior is deceptive, emotionally manipulative, and harmful to both consumers and the real people whose images or identities are being used without permission.
The websites involved include:
[ADD WEBSITE HERE]
Many of these sites recycle identical video clips, sewing footage, and emotional scripts across different “brands.” The stories presented do not match the real individuals whose videos were taken, and some of the faces appear to be fully AI-generated. The websites seem to be part of a coordinated scam network.
I am asking your team to investigate the associated merchant accounts and take appropriate action if these stores are violating policies related to fraud, misrepresentation, identity theft, or deceptive practices.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
Short FTC description template
If you are filing a report at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov, you can paste a shorter version like this into the description box:
I am reporting several ecommerce sites that appear to be using stolen videos and AI-generated impersonations of Black people, along with fabricated racist comments, to deceive consumers into buying blankets. They reuse the same videos, faces, and emotional scripts under different “brand” names and present false stories about Black families and small businesses. The websites include [ADD WEBSITE HERE] and others using similar tactics. This appears to involve identity theft, AI impersonation, deceptive advertising, and racially targeted emotional manipulation.
Share this page
If you find this useful, please share this link with others who may be seeing the blanket scams:
https://lostbelowthefold.com/report-scam-stores-community-tools/
The more people who report, the harder it is for these operations to keep profiting from stolen Black images and AI-fabricated suffering.
Be in community with us. 