False Ad Claiming ‘Bee Venom PH’ as St. Luke’s Product Identified as AI-Generated

St. Luke’s Medical Center Warns Against Fraudulent Bee Venom Product Claims

St. Luke’s Medical Center has issued a strong warning against an unauthorized product being marketed online as “Bee Venom PH,” which falsely claims to be manufactured by the hospital. The cream, promoted as a cure for joint pain, has been circulating on social media with fabricated endorsements from medical professionals.

In a statement released on September 5, St. Luke’s categorically denied any connection to the product, emphasizing that they neither manufacture nor endorse any Bee Venom products. The hospital further cautioned that “unverified and unregulated use of the products may pose serious health risks to individuals, including harmful side effects, allergic reactions, or complications if used as a substitute for medical care.”

The fraudulent marketing campaign includes AI-generated videos featuring a person presented as Dr. Jubert Benedicto, allegedly the chair of the Council on Tuberculosis of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians. In the video, the purported doctor claims: “Many patients have been cured using BeeVenom PH, a product of St. Luke’s Medical Center, which is why it is guaranteed and effective.”

Analysis using DeCopy’s image analysis software confirmed that the promotional materials have a 100% probability of being AI-generated, highlighting the sophisticated methods now being employed by health product scammers.

The Facebook page “Bones Care – Bee Venom,” which has amassed over 1,000 likes and 1,500 followers, has been actively promoting the product. One particularly concerning post has garnered more than 250 reactions, 30 comments, and 12 shares, with numerous users inquiring about pricing and ordering information in the comments section.

The marketers have employed several deceptive tactics to establish credibility, including false claims that each product box contains documentation from the Department of Health and FDA Philippines, along with the unauthorized use of St. Luke’s Medical Center’s logo and seal.

A verification check through the Philippine Food and Drug Administration’s portal revealed that, contrary to these claims, Bee Venom PH cream is not registered with the regulatory agency. This lack of registration raises significant concerns about the product’s safety, efficacy, and quality control standards.

This incident highlights a growing trend of health-related scams utilizing artificial intelligence to create convincing but entirely fabricated endorsements from reputable medical institutions and professionals. Similar fraudulent advertisements for bee venom products and supposed joint pain remedies have previously been debunked by fact-checkers.

Health experts warn that unregulated health products can pose serious dangers to consumers, particularly those with pre-existing medical conditions or allergies. Bee venom, specifically, can trigger severe allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, potentially leading to anaphylaxis in extreme cases.

St. Luke’s Medical Center has urged the public to remain vigilant when encountering health products marketed online and to verify claims directly with official sources. The hospital emphasized the importance of consulting licensed physicians for medical advice rather than relying on unproven remedies promoted through social media.

Regulatory authorities are increasingly concerned about the proliferation of unregistered health products in the Philippines, particularly those targeting vulnerable populations suffering from chronic conditions like joint pain. The FDA regularly issues warnings against such unauthorized products and encourages consumers to report suspicious marketing.

For those experiencing joint pain or other medical conditions, health professionals recommend seeking proper medical consultation rather than turning to unverified products that may delay appropriate treatment while potentially causing harm.