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Warning About Fake Ads and Identity Theft

Time and again, third parties misuse the names, photos, or alleged statements of doctors and other employees of the University Hospital of Zurich (USZ) to promote products or services. This content is created and distributed without the consent of the individuals concerned. The USZ has no connection to such offers.

How can you tell if an ad is an official USZ ad?

The USZ places ads on various online platforms. These can be identified by the following characteristics, among others. She:

  • appear in the standard USZ design
  • lead exclusively to the official USZ website
  • never offer products for sale
  • do not make sensational claims about healing

You can find our official ads in the respective ad centers on each platform.

Meta Google Ads

How do you spot fake ads?

The following points may indicate that an advertisement is fake:

  • Sensational Healing Claims
  • Statements such as “The pharmaceutical industry doesn’t want you to know this“
  • Requests to immediate purchase of a product
  • References to unknown websites
  • Photos or names of female doctors and male doctors that reason source
  • Design differs significantly from the USZ design

What should you do if you come across an ad like this?

If you come across an (allegedly) fake advertisement, here’s the best way to respond:

  1. Do not click on the link.
  2. Do not enter any personal information.
  3. Do not purchase any products through this ad.
  4. Report the ad directly on the platform where it is being displayed.
  5. Please notify the USZ of the report using the form below.
  6. If possible, please also report the incident to the Federal Office for Cybersecurity and to Cybercrimepolice.

How to Report a Fraudulent Claim to the USZ

In that case, please fill out the form below. If possible, please send us:

  • Screenshot of the ad
  • Link to the ad
  • Date of sighting
  • On which platform was the ad displayed?
  • Information about the product sold, including the USZ sender/name(s) listed, if available

What should you do if you've already ordered a product?

If you:

  • health-related problems ,
  • unsure are, what you have taken ,

turn Please contact contact your family doctor or, in an emergency, call 144.

If you:

  • financial damages have ,
  • have shared personal information with strangers,

inform You the relevant authorities.

Currently known cases

We are currently aware of cases of identity theft involving fraudulent job postings targeting the following USZ employees:

Portrait Daniel Eberli

Daniel Eberli, Prof. Dr. Dr. med.

Director of Department, Department of Urology

Tel. +41 44 255 54 01
Specialties: Prostate cancer: 3D prostate biopsies (MRI fusion, stereotactic), DaVinci robotics and laparoscopy, HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound), Robotic surgery (kidney and bladder), Treatment of benign prostate enlargement
Portrait Philipp Gerber

Philipp Gerber, Prof. Dr. med.

Senior Physician, Vice Director of Department, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Clinical Nutrition

Tel. +41 44 255 36 20
Specialties: Overweight and obesity, Dyslipidemia, Clinical nutrition

The USZ is doing everything it can to stop such deepfake ads. The content has already been reported to the platform operators, and steps have been taken to have it removed.

Frequently Asked Questions

The USZ and its employees do not advertise medications or health products, nor does the USZ sell medications online. Therefore, please be especially cautious about offers, links, and videos that purport to come from the USZ or its employees and that offer products for sale.

As a general rule when purchasing medications:

  • Medications should be obtained exclusively through the designated channels (pharmacy, doctor’s office, hospital). Swissmedic generally advises against purchasing medicines online.
  • There is a high risk of receiving counterfeit products containing harmful ingredients online.

Watch out for unnatural lip movements, a tinny or choppy voice, and sensational promises such as “Quick cure,” “Instant results,” or “The pharmaceutical industry doesn’t want you to know this.” In its actual advertisements, the USZ links exclusively to the official domain usz.ch.

No. The names, faces, voices, and titles of our doctors are criminally misused without their knowledge or consent. The USZ expressly distances itself from these offers and is taking legal action against those responsible.

The USZ immediately reports fake ads to platform operators (such as Meta or Google). However, since scammers use AI technologies and can create new accounts abroad in a matter of seconds, completely eliminating them is an ongoing technical battle. Your report is a huge help to us.