Dr. Tony Leachon, a prominent Filipino cardiologist and former adviser to the National Task Force against COVID-19, filed identity theft cases with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on August 18, 2023, regarding the misuse of his image to promote fake health products.
Key Details on the Fraudulent Ads
Products Involved: Scammers used manipulated, AI-generated, and deepfake videos of Dr. Leachon to endorse unregistered, unverified, and potentially harmful products, including Glufarelin, Grandsure Gold, Dianorm, Jointlab, Krill oil, and Bee Venom Japan Cream.
The Scheme: The fake ads, frequently found on Facebook, used edited clips from his legitimate videos to make it appear as though he was recommending these products as cures for diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis.
Rappler's Involvement: Rappler has fact-checked and debunked multiple instances of these fake ads, confirming they were fraudulent, unauthorized, and used manipulated content.
Action Taken: Dr. Leachon reported these cases to the NBI Cyberlibel Division, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and major media outlets.
Recent Updates (2024â2025)
Continued Misuse: As of November 2024,, scammers continued to use AI-edited clips of Dr. Leachon to promote fraudulent products.
"Deepfake" Warnings: Expert analysis found high-confidence evidence of AI manipulation in videos featuring Dr. Leachon and other doctors, such as Dr. Willie Ong, to sell these products.
Call for Action: Dr. Leachon has publicly called for "digital justice" and tighter laws against cybercriminals, emphasizing that he does not endorse any herbal or supplement products online.
Dr. Leachon has warned the public to only trust information from his verified social media accounts.
Tony Leachon
@FDAPhilippines
@risahontiveros
@rapplerdotcom
@DOHgovph
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