Used by Russia to help influence the 2016 U.S. election, Facebook also has served as the unwitting platform for hidden advertising of so-called erectile dysfunction cures. Hopefully, its tightened security protocols will eliminate much of this content in the future.
As a better understanding of Russia’s role in the 2016 election comes to light, we’re learning more about Facebook’s unwitting role as a platform to spread fake news.
In one ad with the headline, “Sponsors Pull Out From His Show Over This?” a photo of Fox News host Sean Hannity with MSNBC host Rachel Maddow baited users to click to find out more.
But the fake ad took unsuspecting readers to a site that was designed to look like the Fox News website. On it, consumers were offered a free bottle of a so-called “cure” for erectile dysfunction, according to the news website Salon. The free sample, which was called Testo-Max HD, isn’t approved by the FDA to treat erectile dysfunction and therefore is unregulated in terms of ingredients.
Credit Card Charges
In addition to getting fake pills (assuming any pills were ever actually sent out), users were most likely asked to submit their payment information to cover the cost of shipping. Inevitably, this would mean unauthorized automatic charges to their credit or debit card.
A similar ad showed a picture of Sean Hannity with the headline, “The Left Demands Immediate Boycott of ‘The Hannity Show’ After Sean Reveals His Cure to ED!” Again, the ad was styled to look like readers were on the Fox News website. The erectile dysfunction pills being touted to cure erectile dysfunction? Testo-Max HD.
Stopping the Fake ED Drug Ads
Facebook has been implementing better tools to try to catch fake ads and websites that hide malware, but other internet ad companies are also falling prey to such nefarious crimes.
For men with erectile dysfunction, it may be tempting to try something that doesn’t require you to talk to anyone about your impotence. But the supplements and fake drugs advertised on most social media news feeds are no substitute for genuine FDA-approved erectile dysfunction drugs like Cialis and Viagra, both of which require a prescription. Getting a prescription from your doctor should ensure you’re getting the real deal, not a fake cure.
For those who’d like to order their ED drugs online, it’s always advisable to deal only with a reliable online facilitator such as eDrugstore. In business since the late 1990s, eDrugstore sells only FDA-approved drugs, all of which are sourced from licensed U.S. pharmacies. To learn more, visit its Erectile Dysfunction page.
We specialize in providing our over 1,000,000 customers with relevant product and condition information created by our professional editorial staff which includes our team of medical writers, medical practitioners, and health educators. eDrugStore.com Staff on Facebook