Images and video footage of Professor Rinki Murphy, a diabetes expert working at Health NZ and Professor of Medicine at University of Auckland, are being used on social media to promote fake diabetes information.

“People have been contacting me, saying they’ve stopped taking their diabetes medication and sent money for alternative products – all because they thought I recommended it,” Dr Murphy says.

“This poses significant health risks for those patients, not to mention the financial impact. It’s very upsetting to see vulnerable patients being targeted by criminals in this way.”

Dr Murphy says she first became aware of the fake videos on Facebook and other social media around Anzac weekend. Since then, she has seen many different versions of fake videos, showing her promoting various products to cure diabetes or to lose weight.

This type of health scam uses artificial intelligence to create deepfake videos of doctors, especially those who also do research. The doctor’s reputation is used to deceive and persuade people into buying scam products online.

Some of the videos say things like “buy this 5 second method”, “take this cure for 27 days” or “these pills are NOT sold in pharmacies” or “Click here to find out more”.

“These phrases are a major red flag,” Dr Murphy says. “Real doctors don’t talk like that, and we don’t sell products through social media ads.”

Things for the public to do:

  • Before buying any health product you see advertised online, talk to your health care team.
  • Never stop taking your regular diabetes medications unless you have consulted with your medical team.
  • If you see a fake video, please report it to the social media platform and don’t click on any links.
  • Please warn your friends and family members with diabetes about these scams.
  • If you have been harmed or lost money, please report the scam to NZ Police.