Crazy bullshit
An Auckland orthopaedic surgeon has developed a device to treat joint pain, as promoted in social media ads.
Spread on: Instagram and Facebook ads, New Zealand (September 2026)
The real story
The 'surgeons' in the ads are AI-generated and do not exist. The New Zealand Orthopaedic Association told AAP FactCheck it had no record of the surgeon named, and the ads leaned on invented credentials and customer reviews. The sales pitch targeted people living with pain.
The fact-checker's verdict: “False”. Our label never goes further than theirs.
How to spot it
Look up any 'doctor' in an ad on the official medical register; fake experts will not be listed.
The receipts
Fake surgeons target those in pain with Facebook ads ↗
AAP FactCheck · 2026-09-28
