This month, Facebook (FB) is abound with websites and pages endorsing serums that supposedly treat skin conditions and irregularities. The products are fake.
The serums are not registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the hospital that supposedly develops them does not exist.
On July 14, a reader asked VERA Files Fact Check to look into one of the sites which sell the product. The team tracked down three sites: drmanilaphilippin.online, doctormanila.website and manilabeauty.website.
None of the three items — Dr. Manila Crocodile Scar Removal Serum, Dr. Manila Bearberry Melasma Treatment Serum and Dr. Manila White Willow Bark Acne Treatment Serum — have FDA registration documents as a drug or cosmetic product.
The FDA ensures the safety, efficacy and quality of products such as drugs, cosmetics and food.
Photos doctored, taken out of context
To deceive netizens, the sites all featured images of a “Manila International Hospital” ostensibly to show from where the products originated.
Manila International Hospital is not a real hospital. It is not on the Department of Health’s list of licensed government and private hospitals.
Two photos of Vinmec Times City International Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam were altered so that the word “Vinmec” would instead read “Manila.” A third photo showing the facilities inside one of the Vinmec hospitals was shown in the scammer sites.
Note: Click on the photos to view their original source
A site also claims to show an image of “Dr. Manila” himself, but it is actually Dr. Borriboon Navacharoen of Phyathai 2 International Hospital in Bangkok. Images of Thai doctors Apichart Suramethakul and Tipapat Attathom as well as a stock photo of a doctor were also added.
VERA Files Fact Check previously debunked fake ads promoting these unregistered Dr. Manila products.
(Read ‘Dr. Manila’ scar removal serum NOT FDA-approved)
Similar to earlier bogus sites flagged, netizens were promised discounts and asked to provide their personal information to avail of the product.
The sites were shared by FB pages like Doctor Manila – Natural Treatment Serum (created on Aug. 17, 2022 as Cát Tường – Hội chia sẻ nuôi con thông minh), Doctor Manila – Remove Melasma and Freckles At Home (Aug. 17, 2022 as Cát Tường – Hội chia sẻ nuôi con thông minh), Dr. Manila Scar Treatment – No.1 Quality (Aug. 29, 2021 as Tặng Thuốc Viêm Xoang Miễn Phí) and Dr. Manila Clinic – Remove Scar At Home (Nov. 10, 2020 as Shop Hari Won – Nước Hoa Pháp). Their posts containing the links collectively garnered 37,761 reactions, 17,497 comments and 2,142 shares.
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(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)