Fake Medical Endorsements Found In Social Media Ads
14 Oct 2026 · UK
Consumer group Which? has found ads on Facebook and Instagram that falsely claim to be backed by trusted UK health names.
In an investigation published on 14 October, Which? found adverts from overseas sellers using the names of the British Dental Association, Boots, Guy's and St Thomas' and Asthma + Lung UK to sell products such as a dental treatment, a weight-loss product and an asthma spray. The organisations told Which? the ads were not genuine or not connected to them.
According to Meta's ad library estimates, the dental ads alone were seen by more than a million profiles at least once in late September. Meta told Which? it removed the ads that were brought to its attention.
New UK rules on scam adverts under the Online Safety Act haven't come into force yet, so for now it's up to us to be careful.
Warning Signs
- Health cures or offers that sound too good to be true.
- Pressure to buy quickly.
- Poor spelling and grammar.
- Logos from the NHS, doctors or big shops on a product you've never heard of.
Report a scam ad using the three dots on the post, then Report. You can also report it to the Advertising Standards Authority, and report fraud to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) on 0300 123 2040. If you've lost money, call your bank straight away.
Sources
Last checked 16 October 2026.
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Updated 16 October 2026