(qlmbusinessnews.com . Wed 24th Dec, 2025) London, UK —
TikTok Removes Counterfeit Slimming Medication Ads Following Boots Complaint
Counterfeit Advertisements for Slimming Medications Disguised as Boots Removed from TikTok
In a recent turn of events, TikTok has taken down fraudulent advertisements for prescription-only slimming medications, following a complaint by Boots, a prominent health and beauty retailer. These fabricated adverts showcased individuals posing as healthcare professionals associated with Boots, joyfully promoting weight loss drugs, their authenticity falsely bolstered by artificial intelligence.
In the UK, it's against the law to publicise prescription-based weight loss treatments directly to consumers. Boots, taking swift action after becoming aware of the misleading campaign, approached TikTok to raise their concerns. A spokesperson from TikTok asserted the platform's stance against “harmful or deceptive AI-generated ads.” Despite the initial removal of these adverts, the responsible account, purportedly based in Hong Kong, swiftly re-uploaded the same content. Only after a second notification did TikTok permanently eliminate the user's account.
In England, specific weight-loss injections have been accessible via NHS prescriptions since the end of June, albeit under stringent eligibility criteria, rendering over-the-counter purchases impossible. Prior to the fraudulent account's suspension, its videos directed viewers to an online platform selling these drugs, complete with fictitious endorsements from clients and doctors either concocted by AI or plagiarised.
The deceptive videos featured so-called health practitioners consuming a mysterious blue liquid, followed by scenes purporting a significant weight reduction over several months. According to Sam Gregory, an AI expert, the simplicity with which AI can fabricate believable visual transformations poses significant challenges in distinguishing genuine health advice from scams, particularly affecting the reaction speed and thoroughness of platform responses when such fraudulent activities are identified.
Furthermore, it was discovered that this same TikTok account repurposed genuine weight-loss journey content from real individuals without consent, cleverly miming the official Boots TikTok account's branding and username, “@BootsUK”. However, Boots clarified that its genuine social media adverts are exclusively published through its official account, @BootsUK.
The website to which the fake adverts linked also echoed cautionary statements from the MHRA, the UK's regulatory agency overseeing the safety of medicines and medical devices, regarding the risks of acquiring counterfeit products. A spokesperson from MHRA stressed that weight loss medications should exclusively be sourced from licensed pharmacies on the back of a valid prescription, highlighting the severe health risks associated with alternative procurement methods.
In response to the incident, TikTok has pledged to further refine its detection capabilities for AI-generated content, maintaining its prohibition against showcasing, endorsing, or trading controlled substances on its platform.
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