Unlicensed weight-loss drugs marketed on social media as 'prizes'

"Fake Prizes and Deadly Deals: Social Media's Unregulated Weight-Loss Scam"

The dark world of social media giveaways has taken a deadly turn, with promoters of unlicensed weight-loss drugs using digital marketing tactics to lure in unsuspecting victims. The latest scam involves giving away powerful, unapproved medicines as "prizes," leaving experts warning of the extreme dangers and potential harm to those who participate.

One such operation, BioUK Research peptides 2, has been monitored by researchers, offering an "ultimate peptide stack" including retatrutide (Reta) 20mg, Glow pens, and melanotan II (MT2). Retatrutide is a medication that has not yet received approval for use anywhere in the world, while Glow pens contain copper peptides marketed for skin repair and anti-aging. Melanotan II is an unapproved tanning peptide that can cause serious side effects.

The giveaway promises "100% free to enter" with only three friends to add to the group, followed by a random name generator to select a winner. However, those who inquired about the prize were revealed to be offered unlicensed weight-loss drugs instead of fitness coaching or training services. The scammer used coded language, such as "Get fit with Rita," which actually referred to retatrutide.

Experts warn that these tactics are not only deceptive but also extremely dangerous, given that many substances being promoted in these giveaways are tightly regulated medicines rather than harmless supplements. Weight-loss injections require a valid prescription and must be dispensed through licensed pharmacies or authorized healthcare providers.

Dr. Emily Rickard, a research fellow at the University of Bath, described the practice as "extremely dangerous" and said it trivializes the use of unlicensed medicines while discouraging people from asking about their legality. Dr. Piotr Ozieranski, also from the University of Bath, labeled these digital marketing techniques as "highly problematic" applied to unregulated pharmaceuticals.

The sale of illegal medication is explicitly forbidden by both Telegram and Meta's Community Standards, with the latter pointing users to its rules for removing such content. However, despite the risks, these scams continue to spread on social media platforms, leaving vulnerable individuals at risk of serious harm.

Ugh, social media giveaways are like a never-ending game of "win a free" - but instead of a nice new phone or laptop, you get a deadly dose of unapproved meds . I mean, who needs expert advice on healthy living when you can just win a weight loss drug that's not even approved by any legit authorities? It's like they're playing a real-life video game where the stakes are your health and well-being .

And let's be real, the "Get fit with Rita" scam is a total low . I mean, come on, can't these scammers come up with something more creative? It's not like they're going to win any awards for originality or anything .

Anyway, experts are warning us about this stuff because, you know, actual people might actually get hurt . Not that I'm surprised - it's not like social media platforms have never had issues with fake giveaways and scams before . Maybe it's time for them to up their game and take these scammers down a peg?

Ugh, can you believe this?! These weight loss scammers are like total cheaters! They just use social media giveaways as a way to get people hooked on these super dangerous unlicensed meds and then sell them like they're harmless supplements or something. It's like, hello! You can't just give out prescription-only meds with no medical supervision like that! And it's not even like they're offering any real help or training - just a bunch of sketchy pills and some useless pen thingies . I'm so worried about all these people who might get hurt from this stuff... We need to be more careful online, you know?

Ugh , can you believe this?! Social media giveaways that promise "free" weight loss prizes? It's just not right . These scammers are basically giving out poisonous stuff like retatrutide and melanotan II, which have no business being handed out to anyone who wants to lose weight . And don't even get me started on the fact that they're using coded language to trick people into getting fake "prizes" .

I mean, what's next? Giving away legit medicine without a prescription?! No way, Jose! We need to be more careful about what we share online and who we trust. These platforms need better moderation and enforcement, stat!

OMG I'm literally shook by this one! Social media giveaways are supposed to be fun, but when they turn out to be deadly, that's just not right . These scammers are using fake prizes like retatrutide, melanotan II, and copper peptides as bait, but really they're just trying to sell unlicensed weight-loss meds . I mean, have you seen the "Get fit with Rita" code language? It's like, hello! This is not a game, folks! The experts are saying that these tactics are super deceptive and can lead to serious harm, which is just not okay .

I'm all for social media being a fun way to connect, but we need to be more vigilant about the stuff we click on or enter contests for . These scammers are taking advantage of people's desire to lose weight and looking good, and that's just cruel . The worst part is that they're using platforms like Telegram and Meta, which have rules against this kind of thing, but still letting it happen . We need to do better, folks! Let's spread awareness and support those who are fighting these scams .

I'm really worried about this... it's just so fake and deadly . These social media giveaways sound like a dream come true, but in reality, they're just a way for scammers to make money off people's desperation. I mean, who gives away unapproved medicines as prizes? It's crazy! The fact that experts are warning about the dangers of these giveaways is really concerning. We need to be more careful and critical when we see offers like this on social media.

And what's even worse is that these scammers are using coded language to try and trick people into getting involved with unlicensed medicines. It's like they're playing a game of cat and mouse, trying to confuse people so they don't do their research . We need to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

It's also frustrating that some social media platforms are allowing this kind of content to spread. I mean, we know it's against their rules, but somehow these scams keep popping up anyway . It's time for them to step up and take action to stop these scammers in their tracks!