PHARMA CHAMELEONS

Fraudsters act as top chemist in online adverts, Scams were plugging rapid weight loss drugs

- DANNY DE VAAL

DEVIOUS scammers are impersonating a pharmacy chain to sell unregulated products that falsely promise rapid weight loss, we can reveal.

Following an Irish Daily Star probe, widespread posts for fat-shredding products were easily found on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

One of the adverts on TikTok was pretending to be from Boots Ireland.

The fake post, removed after we flagged it, used an image of Boots' Half Moon Street outlet in Cork as its profile picture.

The video appeared between genuine TikTok posts, making it look like regular content.

It showed a young, slim woman, who is not believed to have any connection to the scammers, posing. Text overlaying the video read “One year on a glp1.”

The username of the account was “Boots Ireland” and the caption was “70% OFF ONLY TODAY - Ends Soon!” and marked as an “ad”.

“Glp1” is a reference to GLP1-agonists which is a class of medicines that mimic a natural hormone and helps regulate blood sugar while promoting weight loss.

DIABETES

They are usually prescribed for those with type 2 diabetes but can also be used for weight loss.

Genuine GLP1-agonists are present in authentic jabs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy.

Once the fake Boots Ireland advert was clicked, users were brought to an external website selling a product called “Ourlyard GLP-1 Six in One Health Solution Oral Liquid”.

The site contained false fat loss claims and promised those who take it would see visible changes in seven days.