Scammers trick vulnerable victims into purchasing fake fat loss products

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

Following an Irish Mirror probe, widespread posts for fat-shredding products were easily found on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok. Most strikingly, 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 confidently. 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 also promoting weight loss. 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 fat loss 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. The website shows various fake testimonies claiming to be from Irish people. One of which is from a woman called “Aoife O’Sullivan” who was “54 years old” “from Cork”.

A heading above the picture read that the woman “was on the brink of death due to severe obesity, but our latest product saved her life”. It’s accompanied with dramatic before and after shots which show considerable weight loss.

A reverse image search showed the same photos and testimony recycled under names like “Linda Brown” and “Olivia Thompson” – with locations shifting between the US, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The photographs are believed to be authentic but they were seized upon by unscrupulous con artists and reproduced across thousands of dodgy websites promoting variations of the same product.

Other before and after pictures were actually achieved through surgical procedures. One of which showed a woman after a posterior lift – which is an operation to remove excess skin and fat while also tightening the remaining skin to lift and reshape the buttocks.

Another was before and after a man underwent vascular surgery on his leg. The fraudsters also claim the product will help with “cardiovascular health, diabetes, sleep apnea, gut health, joint issues and more”.

The fraudsters also included a bogus Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) sticker on their marketing material – which is the body that regulates medicines and devices for people and animals in Ireland. They also claimed it was made in Ireland – neither is true.

The HPRA told the Irish Mirror that they were “aware of websites such as these making false claims” and reiterated that it “does not promote or endorse specific products or specific brands.”

They have previously warned people to “be cautious of websites and ads making these false claims. “Do not buy these products, as they may be from untrustworthy suppliers who are advertising illegally and making false claims.”

Variations of the video used in the bogus Boots Ireland advert were also found on X and Instagram. Some of which also made claims around weight loss, while others were posted in different languages – but no others impersonated the pharmacy.

At present, most genuine GLP1 medications are only available in an injectable form which must be prescribed by a doctor. Whereas the product being flogged lists ingredients such as apple cider vinegar powder, turmeric, ginkgo biloba extract and echinacea.

In addition, the products also claim to have Tirzepatide which is an antidiabetic medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and weight loss. This can only be injected.

Dr Sindy Newman, who is a leading weight loss medication expert from Diet UK, told The Irish Mirror/Star: “In Ireland and across the EU, the only oral GLP-1 medicine currently authorised is Rybelsus (semaglutide tablets), which is licensed for type 2 diabetes and sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss.

Crucially, it is a tablet taken under prescription – there are no authorised ‘oral solutions’ of Semaglutide or Tirzepatide anywhere in the world. Other oral GLP-1 drugs, like Orforglipron, are in clinical trials but not yet available.

“Any product marketed as a GLP-1′ solution’ or ‘drops’ is unregulated, unsafe, and not a licensed medicine.”

Dr Newman said the list of herbal ingredients coupled with the claim of Tirzepatide was a “red flag” which were being “dressed up as GLP-1s”

She continued: “The claims and images used in these adverts is incredibly misleading. Weight loss claims can only be made if published clinical studies have been carried out to validate a medications safety and efficacy.”

Asked if she believed weight loss was possible for somebody taking the supplement, she declared: “There is no clinical evidence to suggest that this product would be effective for weight loss, and given the lack of trials, the ridiculously cheap cost, I doubt it very much.”

Dr Newman also said she was incredibly worried about social media adverts like this. She explained: “I’m incredibly concerned to see that vulnerable people are being targeted by misleading and aggressive marketing in this way. “We find some people are so desperate to lose weight, and they often can’t afford GLP-1 medication, so they seek cheaper alternatives online.

“When they see these adverts with massive reductions of 70% off, they think it’s worth trying. They see the before and after pictures, which are probably fake pictures representing significant weight loss, and they see a ‘stamp of approval’ by a health organisation. However, we don’t know what is in a product like this.”

Meanwhile, Roj Helin Parlakyildiz, who is a clinical pharmacist with digital healthcare provider Voy, said: “Using fake logos or references to regulators such as the HPRA is extremely dangerous.

“People naturally assume official-looking labels mean a product has been tested and approved for safety. Misusing those symbols is fraudulent and puts public health at risk.”

Ms Parlakyildiz also stressed “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” and urged the public to “be wary of ‘miracle’ weight-loss products on social media”.

“If it’s being sold on TikTok or anywhere online without a prescription, it is not a real GLP-1 medicine. Do not buy weight-loss drugs from unverified websites, influencers, or ads. Only use medicines that are prescribed by a qualified clinician and dispensed by a registered pharmacy.”

In a statement, Boots Ireland said: “Fake accounts on TikTok are impersonating Boots Ireland and promoting weight loss products we do not sell. We take this very seriously and have reported the matter to TikTok.

“Our priority is to protect customers from being misled, which is why we acted quickly to ask the platform to remove these accounts and videos. Boots is committed to the safe dispensing of medicines.

“We strongly advise customers not to buy medicines from unverified sources online, as this could put their health at risk. If concerned, we recommend customers speak to their Boots pharmacist or GP for trusted advice.”

TikTok confirmed that the account behind the fake Boots Ireland adverts flagged by the Irish Mirror has been banned for breaching community guidelines. A spokesperson said: “We have tens of thousands of talented safety professionals dedicated to keeping TikTok safe and continue to invest at scale in our Trust and Safety operations and strengthening our enforcement strategies.

“Our latest Community Guidelines Enforcement Report found that, in Q1 of 2025, of the videos removed for violating our policies on the trade of regulated goods and services, more than 95% were removed before they were reported to us.”

X referred the Irish Mirror to its ads policy and said the platform “prohibits the promotion of fraudulent and deceptive content globally.”

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