Fake adverts for weight loss drugs, posted by a company pretending to be the health and beauty retailer Boots, have been removed from TikTok after the firm complained.
The videos appeared to show smiling healthcare professionals from Boots but were actually created using AI. Advertising prescription-only weight loss drugs to the public is illegal.
A Boots spokesperson said the company was “aware” of the videos and had complained to TikTok. A TikTok spokesperson confirmed it removes “harmful or misleading AI-generated ads” from its platform.
The Fake Account
The account, seemingly based in Hong Kong, was not initially removed. It re-uploaded the same videos even after TikTok deleted the originals. After BanerClub reported the issue again, TikTok deleted the account.
Weight-loss injections have been available on the NHS in England since the end of June. However, they are not sold over-the-counter, and patients must meet strict criteria to obtain a prescription.
Before its removal, the fake account’s videos linked to a website where users could buy weight loss drugs. Many of the testimonials and “doctor endorsements” were either AI-generated or taken from other sources without permission.
The videos depicted health workers drinking from a vial of blue liquid, followed by apparent drastic weight loss over several months.
AI Makes Fake Content Easy
AI expert Sam Gregory told BanerClub, “AI now makes it trivially easy to generate convincing videos or images showing a realistic health professional or even impersonating specific professionals entirely.”
He added, “The real question is how quickly platforms act when scams clearly violate their terms of service. Major brands like Boots are prioritised over individual users.”
Health Risks
Some videos used content originally posted by real people, showing their weight-loss journeys. These were repurposed without consent. All videos mimicked Boots’ branding and used the handle “@BootsOfficial,” although Boots only advertises through its verified account, @BootsUK.
The website also included warnings from the MHRA, the UK’s regulatory body for medicines, cautioning against buying prescription drugs from unofficial sources.
A spokesperson said, “Weight loss medicines should only be obtained from a registered pharmacy with a prescription. Taking them from other sources carries serious health risks with no guarantees about contents.”
TikTok Response
TikTok said it would continue to strengthen detection methods for AI-generated content. The platform does not allow the depiction, promotion, or trade of controlled substances.
