Online shoppers warned of ‘dangerous’ weight-loss scam as ‘ghost stores’ impersonate real people to sell Ozempic-like treatments

<p>Dietitian Lyndi Cohen says her likeness is being ‘abused and misrepresented’ as websites posing as Australian businesses claim to offer GLP-1 substances</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Online <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/13/closing-down-sales-for-shops-that-dont-exist-online-ghost-stores-australia-ntwnfb">“ghost stores”</a> masquerading as Australian businesses have expanded into advertising Ozempic-like weight loss treatments, and are impersonating real people, including a well-known dietitian, to recommend their products.</p><p>After uncovering <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/may/04/meta-and-shopify-urged-to-act-as-scale-of-ghost-stores-preying-on-australian-online-shoppers-revealed-ntwnfb">more than 140 sites</a> falsely claiming to be Australian fashion retailers that prompted a public warning from the consumer regulator, Guardian Australia has identified a new scam that targets people trying to lose weight.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/03/online-shoppers-weight-loss-scam-ghost-stores-impersonate-real-people-sell-ozempic-like-treatments-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>