Experts warn of online health product scams
Experts are warning about a wave of scams on social media, where fraudsters use the names of recognized medical bodies to sell dubious products. The advertisements, which have garnered millions of views, offer solutions for dental problems, weight loss, and asthma. The article provides guidelines for identifying the scam.
Experts are warning about a dangerous phenomenon spreading on social media: advertisements for dubious health products using fake medical endorsements. Scammers, operating mainly from abroad, exploit the public's trust in recognized medical bodies to market products that could cause health and financial harm. A prominent example is an advertisement for a dental product that promised to treat loose teeth, gum inflammation, and toothaches, while impersonating the "British Dental Association." In another case, advertisers from Hong Kong and the US promoted a weight loss product using the logos of the Boots pharmacy chain. Another example is an asthma inhaler marketed with fake endorsements from experts at the British Lung Foundation. The article provides guidelines for identifying the scam: suspicion of promises of "miracle cures," spelling and grammar errors, and pressure tactics. Regulation struggles to cope with the phenomenon, and the responsibility falls on consumers to report suspicious ads.