Diabetes Australia is alerting our community to the rise of fraudulent advertisements and scams for bogus products, including those that claim false endorsement by Diabetes Australia.

Scammers are using deceptive tactics, including fake endorsements from supposed doctors and misleading claims about product origins, to market questionable blood glucose monitoring devices and other products to vulnerable individuals.

One such scam involves a device marketed as the “Bikenda Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Meter,” falsely described as Australian-made and, in some advertisements, Diabetes Australia-approved.

These ads, often appearing on social media platforms such as Facebook, are designed to exploit trust and target individuals managing diabetes. While scammers frequently rotate the products they promote, their methods are consistent: they publish fabricated claims and unauthorised use of reputable names to boost credibility.

To protect our community, we have partnered with a leading cybersecurity company to monitor websites and social media platforms and are taking action to report and remove misleading advertisements, fake social media accounts and fraudulent websites as quickly as possible. Additionally, we treat every email and phone call reporting scam activity seriously, conducting thorough investigations to ensure prompt and appropriate action is taken.

We strongly advise our community to remain vigilant and verify product claims through trusted sources before making any purchases.

If you encounter suspicious advertisements or claims involving Diabetes Australia’s name, please take the following steps:

1. Avoid engagement: Do not click on links, share, or purchase products promoted in such advertisements.
2. Report scams: File a complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via their Scamwatch website.
3. Notify us: Report instances of fraud using our name to Diabetes Australia so we can investigate at [email protected] and take action.
4. Contact the TGA: If you suspect a product is being falsely advertised as compliant, report it to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) at TGA Compliance Hub.

We are committed to protecting our community from misleading and harmful practices. By staying informed and vigilant, we can collectively fight back against these scams and safeguard the trust placed in our organisation.

This post was originally published on 9 January 2025. It was updated 5 May 2025.