As GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy continue to gain popularity for weight management and diabetes treatment, experts are warning that scams targeting eager consumers are on the rise.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports a sharp increase in fraudulent activity related to GLP-1 drugs, particularly in late 2025, when social media feeds were flooded with false promises of rapid weight loss.
“What we’ve been seeing in our scam tracker are advertisements for supplements that claim to work just as effectively as GLP-1 medications,” said Melanie McGovern, spokesperson for the BBB.
Many scams exploit modern technology, including AI-generated advertisements and deepfake videos of celebrities. One widely circulated example featured a deepfake of Oprah Winfrey promoting a so-called “natural” weight-loss product.
Winfrey addressed these misleading AI-generated endorsements in a letter published by Oprah Daily, stating, “Every week, my lawyers and I are playing whack-a-mole with fake AI videos of me selling everything from gummies to pink salt. Let me say this clearly: If you see an ad with my face on a ‘product,’ it’s fake.”
Scammers are capitalizing on growing public awareness of GLP-1 drugs. According to McGovern, the clearest warning sign of a scam is any treatment offered without a prescription.
“If they’re saying, ‘Hey, we’ve got it, just come on and pay us this amount of money,’ that’s a huge red flag — the biggest of the red flags,” she said.
McGovern emphasized that legitimate telehealth providers for GLP-1 medications do exist, but consumers should carefully research any company and consult their doctor before starting treatment.
“It’s your health. It is something that you are injecting into your body to make you healthier,” McGovern said. “So, you want to make sure that your doctor is on board and is aware of what you’re doing.”
Consumers are also urged never to share personal health or insurance information without first verifying the legitimacy of a company.
