Manila: The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has issued a warning to the public about a surge in unauthorized prescription drugs being marketed on online platforms, using artificial intelligence (AI) for promotion.

According to Philippines News Agency, CICC Undersecretary Renato Paraiso highlighted in a statement that scammers are employing AI and investing in social media advertisements to make fraudulent products appear legitimate. He noted that scammers are continually adapting, exploiting sponsored ads, AI-generated content, and the rapid pace of online transactions. Paraiso pointed out that social media and digital platforms still struggle to regulate these activities effectively.

The fraudulent products in question often claim to offer miracle cures at low prices, including a brand of slimming pills that allegedly contains a dangerous methamphetamine mixture. Paraiso advised the public to remain cautious by purchasing health products exclusively from legitimate and licensed sellers. He emphasized skepticism towards sweeping health claims or advertisements that request excessive personal data, advising the public to trust their instincts-if a deal seems too good to be true, particularly concerning health, it probably is.

Paraiso urged the public to report any suspicious products or fraudulent online listings to the Inter-Agency Response Center (I-ARC) hotline 1326 or through the CICC's official social media channels. The CICC's warning comes in response to a Senate Committee on Health and Demography hearing, which discussed the availability of dangerous drugs, such as the amphetamine-laced Hokkaido pills, on the internet.

In addition to the public warning, the CICC proposed establishing a national database of legitimate and illegitimate products to help swiftly remove high-risk listings.