The Australian Digital Health Agency is warning consumers not to fall for a weight loss scam running via Facebook spruiking a miracle cure and using the My Health Record logo.
The ads suggest people can lose 45 kilograms with one teaspoon of the product, a so-called supplement.
Chief Clinical Adviser Dr Steve Hambleton said the scammers had misused the Agency’s My Health Record logo in the ads.
“This is a nonsense,” he said.
“Government agencies don’t lend their logos to companies and My Health Record is a trusted brand, hence our warning.”
Crikey has reported the ads have run through new, small Facebook pages that are barebones but for the advertisement, registered with names like “Wealth” and Personal variety.
The ads apparently all link to similarly formatted websites, despite each being hosted on different domains.
None of the websites has a name or organisation listed as part of its registration records, but two claim to be registered from Iceland.
Dr Hambleton said scammers were insidious and looking to profit from people’s vulnerabilities.
“The use of the trusted My Health Record logo is cause for concern,” he said. “Don’t fall for this scam.”
Note: Crikey also reported Meta responded to them to say the ads and pages have been removed for breaching their policies on impersonating others to scam users.
