Fake News Exploits Monk's Name to Peddle Miracle Herbal Cure
Scammers used AI-generated images of a Nonthaburi monk to promote fake herbal medicine online, drawing villagers to Suan Kaew Temple searching for nonexistent cures. The abbot clarified the temple has no pharmacy license and urged authoriti
A social media page has posted images of officials, elderly people, patients, and Phra Phayom, abbot of Suan Kaew Temple in Nonthaburi province, advertising herbal medicine purportedly developed by the monk to cure various diseases. The false claims prompted villagers to travel to the temple seeking the herbal remedies.
A journalist visited Suan Kaew Temple to investigate. Phra Phayom clarified that the temple cannot produce medicine because it is not licensed as a pharmacy. He stated that anyone traveling to the temple expecting to receive curative medicine has been deceived by AI-generated content created by scammers.
Phra Phayom emphasized that from now on, people should not come to the temple asking for medicine. He stressed that he is a preacher and community developer, not a doctor or pharmacist, and that visitors waste time and travel money. He called on the Ministry of Public Health to take action, as the scammers falsely claim the ministry endorses Phra Phayom's medicine.
