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VERA FILES FACT CHECK: FAKE SM Megamall FB page posts ad for unregistered toothpaste

A Facebook page posing as SM Megamall uploaded a video promoting an unregistered niacinamide toothpaste.

By VERA Files

Jun 29, 2023

2-minute read
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A Facebook (FB) page posing as SM Megamall uploaded a video promoting an unregistered niacinamide toothpaste.

“P1/araw – Magpaalam sa madilaw na ngipin, masamang hininga na dulot ng tabako, kape at food plaque na may Niacinamide toothpaste (P1 a day – Say goodbye to yellow teeth, bad breath caused by tobacco, coffee and food plaque with niacinamide toothpaste),” was the caption of a June 7 video by FB page SM Megamall Philippines. 

The video advertises Bodyaid Niacinamide Toothpaste. The cosmetic product is not registered with the Food and Drug Administration. 

Cursory searches show that the mall’s official social media pages and website do not promote the unregistered toothpaste brand.

A Facebook impostor of SM Megamall posted a fake ad for BodyAid Niacinamide Toothpaste. The toothpaste is not a registered cosmetic product under the Food and Drug Administration. To inject credibility, an altered video of cardiologist Willie Ong was used in the fake ad.

The bogus FB page, created on May 4, was originally named Agriculture Center – Solution from Japan. It has 2 administrators from Vietnam and one from the Philippines, according to its About Page details.

The ad also used a portion of cardiologist Willie Ong’s old vlog to make it appear he was endorsing the fake toothpaste. It was obvious that the clip from Ong’s vlog was snipped from the original and inserted into the fake ad. The audio was also overlaid with another man’s voice whose spiel was to promote the product.

SM Megamall Philippines’ ad got a total of 1.9 million interactions. It appeared a day after the June 6 midyear sale at Watsons drugstore.

 

Have you seen any dubious claims, photos, memes, or online posts that you want us to verify? Fill out this reader request form or send it to VERA, the truth bot on Viber.

 

(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)

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