VERA Files
A website shared on Facebook (FB) claims that an award-winning Filipina student discovered a formula that helps people instantly lose weight. This is yet another fake advertisement using made-up names and altered images to sell an unregistered product.
On May 2, a reader asked VERA Files Fact Check to look into a blog called “Philippines TODAY” (batlbupumabal.tk). It carried a feature story with this headline:
“Genius student from Manila wanted for justice because of the creation of a fat burner that helps you lose 27 kilograms in 30 days!”
It told the story of a 24-year-old medical student named Tala Rivera who created the miracle fat loss product without need for “diets or physical exercise.” Rivera was allegedly “accused of misusing her find[ings],” “got her thesis and degree revoked,” and “almost went to jail.” The article claims that this was done by “crooked corporations” who did not want her to make the product publicly available.
This is bogus. The article used fake identities and manipulated photos to sell the product called Flash. It is not registered with the Food and Drug Administration.
Fake identity
Tala Rivera does not exist.
The photo of Rivera in graduation attire is altered. The original photo shows Thai-German actress Kimberley Anne Woltemas during her university graduation ceremony in 2018. Her face was changed into someone else’s.
The other photo was not taken when Rivera was “almost arrested.” It shows Thai student-activist Phimchanok Jaihong in a detention truck after getting arrested for protesting during Chiang Mai University’s graduation ceremony in 2022.
Other details provided about the student are also false.
It is not true that Rivera was a “top medical student” at the “Department of Endocrinology” in “Manila University.” According to the University of Manila’s website and FB page, it does not have such a department nor does it offer medical courses.
It also claims that Rivera was nominated for the Nobel Prize. The award-giving body’s official website states that nominees’ names and other information about the nomination and selection process “cannot be revealed until 50 years later.”
Fabricated testimonies
The scam ad also claims that a university professor endorsed the product to children as it is “completely natural” and “has no side effects.”
The “university professor” was a made-up character: The website used a photo of Russian doctor Dmitry Sizyakin but his face was changed.
Before-and-after images of users that allegedly benefitted from the product were added. Some were previously posted on Thai FB pages and e-commerce sites promoting other products.
Netizens were promised discounts and asked to provide personal information to avail of the product.
VERA Files also debunked scams with similar modus to promote unregistered products last month.
(Read FAKE ads used in diabetes, erectile dysfunction meds scam)
The link garnered 2,154 interactions on FB according to the social media monitoring tool CrowdTangle.
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.)
