Online Phishing Scam

Be aware of an online phishing scam depicted as a “wonder weight loss product”. Neither The Noakes Foundation nor Prof. Noakes supports this product being advertised on social media. The advertiser has unlawfully and without his permission associated Prof with the product in order to misrepresent its qualities.

This scam enterprise initially began in 2020 under the name “Ketovatru”. The Noakes Foundation worked relentlessly to stop the scam and with Facebook’s help and our supporters, it was shut down after months. Regrettably, the scam has resurfaced with different names such as “Keto Extreme”, “Let’s Keto”, “Keto Gummies”, etc. The scammers aggressively target consumers on popular social media platforms by falsely associating Prof Noakes with their product.

https://reportfakeendorsement.com

His image and name has been hijacked for use in advertisements to falsely imply endorsement of these  “products”. In addition to his false “quotation”, the scammers have also created  related Facebook groups and fake “Professor Tim Noakes” Facebook accounts to comment positively on these products’ fraudulent marketing. Versions of the advert may also link to a “blogpost”, plus feature logo(s) hijacked from health professional organisations. For example, the South African Medical Association’s, News24 and Dischem.

The scam process involves scammers attracting potential consumers with an offer that seems too good to be true: You, the consumer, are offered a “wonder product” that will allow you to ‘lose 15 or more kilograms in a matter of days’. Upon purchasing the product for a specified amount, your bank account will be debited for a much larger sum of money- sometimes upwards of R3,000! The many complaints we’ve received that you will NOT receive any product.

If you spot the advert, you are encouraged to report it and the advertiser to the social media platform. You may also bring the issue to your community’s attention, kindly flagging that consumers must be vigilant of this scam.

It is important to note that Professor Tim Noakes is not the only individual whose identity has been exploited in such scams. Unfortunately, scammers have also used the names of renowned figures like Dr. Michael Moll, Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle, and numerous others to deceive unsuspecting individuals. These deceptive practices are not limited to one person or one industry but are pervasive across various sectors. Stay vigilant and help us raise awareness about these fraudulent activities to protect others from falling victim to such scams.

The following video has been produced to reaise awareness about the scam pertaining to Dr Michael Moll

You can learn more about this scam from other sources by clicking here

If you have fallen victim to this diet scam, we urge you to report your experience to wecare@reportfakeendorsements.com To help us gain a better understanding of the scam, kindly include the following details in your report:

  1. The type of micro fraud (e.g., Diet phishing scam)
  2. Product name (e.g., Let’s Try Keto)
  3. Country of residence (e.g., South Africa)
  4. Type of transaction (e.g., credit card or EFT)
  5. Your full name
  6. If you are open to being contacted by a researcher, please provide your phone number (e.g., 021 123 5467)

Additionally, we recommend taking the following steps to protect yourself:

  • Contact your Bank Fraud department to report this.
  • Report fraudulent activity and posts to the relevant social media platforms. Most media platforms have reporting mechanisms to tackle fraudulent or malicious content.
  • Bring the issue to your community’s attention by spreading the word about fraudulent advertising and scam.

Frequently Asked Questions

The picture you came across, featuring Prof. Tim Noakes advertising gummies, is part of an online phishing scam. Neither The Noakes Foundation nor Prof. Noakes supports or endorses this product being advertised on social media. The scammers behind this deceptive campaign have unlawfully associated Prof. Noakes' image with their product to mislead consumers.

How can I report my experience if I have fallen victim to the diet scam?

If you have been a victim of this diet scam, we strongly urge you to report your experience to reportdietscam@gmail.com. Providing detailed information about the scam, such as the type of micro fraud, product name, country of residence, type of transaction, your full name, and your willingness to be contacted by a researcher, will help us better understand and address the issue.

If you spot the scam advertisement, we encourage you to report it to the respective social media platform. Additionally, you can bring awareness to the scam within your community.

To protect yourself, we recommend reporting the fraudulent activity to your bank's Fraud department and to the relevant social media platforms. Additionally, spreading awareness about fraudulent advertising and scams within your community can help protect others.

If you have been a victim of this diet scam, we strongly urge you to report your experience to reportdietscam@gmail.com. Providing detailed information about the scam, such as the type of micro fraud, product name, country of residence, type of transaction, your full name, and your willingness to be contacted by a researcher, will help us better understand and address the issue.

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