A recent and highly publicized incident has amplified these serious concerns. A seemingly authentic-looking deepfake video of Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam has sparked concerns over misinformation and online fraud. In May 2025, a deepfake footage showing the president resigning hit Facebook. It inaccurately alleged that Dr. Tam said blood clots were discovered in people’s bodies after they died and had gotten COVID-19 vaccines. The video went on to pitch an “all-natural supplement” called “Blood Balance,” which it said could dissolve these dangerous blood clots.
This fake article prominently displayed the image of Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England. It further deceived the majority of users by not letting them know that the claims being made in the video were real. Others fell prey to the misinformation campaign. One user reported spending $300 after being baited to a spoofed website that looked just like the highly regarded scientific journal Nature.
The Deepfake Video and Its Claims
The deepfake video of Dr. Theresa Tam spread across social media and went viral almost instantly. It incorrectly stated that since 2021, doctors had been discovering abnormal blood clots in people who died after being vaccinated for COVID-19. The video suggested these clots were “long, dense, rubber-like white masses never seen before.”
The full interview with Dr. Tam was recorded on April 1, 2021. In this interview with CBC News’s Rosemary Barton, she addressed critical topics, including concerns about COVID-19 variants and vaccine effectiveness, directly refuting the alarming claims spewed in the deepfake.
“Since 2021, doctors have been finding unusual clots in the bodies of the deceased — long, dense, rubber-like white masses never seen before.” – Source not specified
The fabricated video further urged viewers with alarming statements such as, “If you don’t want to die … cleanse your blood vessels,” which aimed to generate fear and prompt viewers into purchasing the touted product.
The Role of Fake Websites in the Scam
The deepfake video wasn’t the only fake thing about this scheme. The home page for one such sham site, posing as a real peer-reviewed science journal, had links taking site visitors to buy “Blood Balance.” This website was an attempt to prove all the ridiculous lies asserted in that video. It did this very cleverly by manipulating users’ trust in credible sources.
The bogus product falsely advertised itself as a blood clot dissolver. It took advantage of the new, long-standing anxieties about vaccine safety and side effects that ballooned during the pandemic. The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has been withdrawn in Canada due to safety concerns, particularly regarding blood clots. It was raised in congressional testimony regarding the purported blood clot concerns.
“Our product is GreenVify Guardian Botanicals Blood Balance and it is currently only available to sell from legitimate platforms on Amazon and Walmart; those platforms would not overcharge customers and would not scam people in any ways. Of course, customers should consult with their doctors for suitability in consuming health supplements.” – Source not specified
This bogus ad-scam scheme made fools of millions of Facebook users. Most of them thought they were only purchasing valid health-related items.
Impact on Public Trust and Safety Concerns
Furthermore, as misinformation spreads ever more widely on social media, fears of undermining public trust in health authorities have led to increased apprehension around engaging social media. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has further strained this trust through persistent conversations surrounding vaccine efficacy and safety. Deepfake technology is compounding these challenges. It makes deep-fake, convincing but fake likenesses of public figures we trust, like Dr. Tam and Chris Whitty.
Research done throughout the pandemic has drawn attention to adverse health effects associated with COVID-19 vaccinations, such as instances of blood clots. It is essential for the public to discern between verified information from health officials and dubious claims propagated through manipulated content.
Instances like this underscore the importance of vigilance when consuming health-related information online. Fact check misinformation with trusted resources. Trust and verify. Always refer to reliable medical advice when considering any decisions based on potentially misleading health-related information.
