Coronavirus: Bogus sellers advertise healing energy, spells and religious remedies online to cure deadly disease
Bogus sellers on an online marketplace claim to have developed "cures" for the coronavirus disease or COVID-19, even as scientists are racing against time to develop one.
COVID-19 has no cure yet. Scientists are testing various approaches, even using HIV drugs and antibodies from recovered patients. A fully-developed vaccine could take as much as 18 months to see the light of day. COVID-19 has already affected 73,000 people around the world and killed 1,873 people.
These unscientific 'cures' listed on a website named Fiverr, include 'healing energy', 'bio magic principles' and 'Islamic method'. They have been listed for prices ranging from £4 to £80 online, reports MailOnline.
"What makes these websites attractive is people can interact with these 'specialists' anonymously," Ian Hamilton, a senior lecturer in addiction at York University, told MailOnline.
This is despite the World Health Organization's (WHO) tough stance against fake news. They have been actively debunking coronavirus myths floating around the internet. More recently, the organization urged social media giants to implement tough measures to stem misinformation.
According to Andrew Pattison, WHO's digital business solutions manager, false information was "spreading faster than the virus".
Claims on Fiverr
One advert by 'Powerful Protection' claimed of having access to treatments that would strengthen the immune system and offer protection against coronavirus. The cure was listed for £40.24.
Another user healer_ganna is reported to have said: "Hurry up! Coronavirus everywhere! I will boost your immune system and protect you from coronavirus." And for those already infected, healer_ganna was selling their healing spell for an extra £20.
One seller waves2cure said they could protect against the virus by broadcasting 'scalar healing waves' at three different rates: basic, standard or premium service for the prices of £16.10, £20.12 or £24.14.
"I’m able to produce Scalar Healing Frequencies embedded with information code to energize and rebuild your immune system, using a photograph, name, and address of the person in question," waves2cure is reported to have said.
Another cure had a religious connection. "Just talk to me and I will provide you an Islamic supplication for your problems. I am a student of the Quran." claimed one Fiverr user.
Fiverr has now removed such listings from their websites following MailOnline's report.
Are online market places a breeding ground for unscientific claims?
Amazon and eBay have also seen similar listings from sellers who are tagging their "face masks" with coronavirus to push their products to the top of search rankings.
A search on these sites has also led people to vitamin C boosters -- which has been listed as one of the fake cures for coronavirus.
eBay said it is currently removing listings that make misleading assertions from their website, reports ABC Science.
Besides coronavirus, sellers on Fiverr have been selling "cures" for addictions, with some offering fast cures to stop alcohol addiction. For instance, a Fiverr user called afrospells, which had dozens of glittering reviews, offered alcoholics a 'single cast' for £199.65.
"These types of listings are preying on people who are at their most desperate and falsely giving hope when they feel at their most pessimistic about being able to get out of their problematic relationship with alcohol," Hamilton explained.
Hamilton feared anonymity warned that the posts were "exploiting this vulnerability in people with problems". He added that people with alcohol dependency issues should seek medical help and supervision to reduce harming themselves.