Four Facebook (FB) videos advertising magnetic underwear that allegedly enlarge one’s penis size illicitly used vlogs by cardiologist Willie Ong and medical doctor Krizzle Luna. There is no medical or scientific explanation to this claim.
“Penile growth and development is a complex process regulated by genes, hormones, and environmental factors, according to Weill Cornell Medicine’s Department of Urology.
A user from Instagram asked VERA Files Fact Check to debunk this claim. Agence France-Presse Philippines has rated a similar FB post as fake.
Ong and Luna have not made any videos discussing or promoting the use of magnetic underpants, cursory search results show.
“For the most part, penis enlargements products and techniques don’t work. Some can even cause harm,” a medically-reviewed article published by Healthline states.
The videos, uploaded from Feb. 10 to Feb. 27, used the following captions:
“Most men’s concern want to have a big and healthy “?????? ???” !?
As a doctor, the ?????? ?????? of Filipino men is my top priority. I always recommend this Magnetic Under.wear (sic), recommended by the ????? ????????? ?? ?????? ??????”
“Good news for all Filipino men. Increase Size 5-6 c.m More & Solid Like A Rock. Easily with Magnetic Underwear imported from USA (sic)”
The ads claimed that the “Japan Institute of Sexual Health” recommended the product. There is no such health bureau or institute in Japan. Cursory search also shows only a private Japanese organization Sexual Health Initiative that “conducts activities related to sexology and sexual health in Japanese,” and did not include anything on magnetic underpants.
The posts contain links to a website where users can order magnetic underwear named Viane Klcin or Japan technology, but these ask for personal information. On Amazon,Viane Klcin is marketed as mere Men’s boxer briefs featuring a double-layer sweat insulation design. No mention of anything magnetic for penile enlargement.
Other scams debunked by VERA Files Fact Check also use the same modus of directing netizens to a website that either collects personal information, or asks to fill out a survey.
(Watch: VERA FILES FACT CHECK YEARENDER: ‘Buy one, get scammed free’: Mga scam, nagkalat sa social media nitong 2022)
To deceive netizens into thinking that Ong is promoting magnetic underwear, the videos used vlogs where the cardiologist talked about Viagra as a drug to treat erectile dysfunction, the effect of wearing tight underwear on a man’s fertility, and the bad effects of not eating vegetables.
One of the four videos also used a vlog where Luna talked about penis size and debunked penis enlargement products such as pills or supplements.
The four fake posts by FB pages DOC.wilile Liza Family (created on Jan. 31, 2023), DOC. Dr Wiiliie – Ramos Ong (created on Aug. 5, 2023), DOC.wilile Liza Family (created on Jan. 31, 2023), and Philippines Smart Life (created on Aug. 9, 2021) got a total of 8,900 reactions, 1,537 comments, and 1.17 million views.
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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.)