KUALA LUMPUR: Seven people have been detained in connection with selling fake health products by misusing photographs and videos of an eye expert.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said three local men and a woman were arrested in Shah Alam on Tuesday and Wednesday (May 21 and 22).
"Two of them are company directors while the others are a marketing officer and a businessman.
"We believe they were responsible for selling the fake health products," he told a press conference at CCID headquarters on Monday (May 27).
Further investigation led police to arrest a local man, a Bangladeshi man and a Vietnamese woman in Klang on Friday (May 24), he added.
"We seized several items at the locations, including 24 boxes of eye products, a box of spectacles, a laptop, a printer and four mobile phones," he said.
Comm Ramli said the syndicate is believed to have used photos and videos of the eye expert to promote its fake product.
"The eye expert realised what was happening when several individuals called her to verify the authenticity of the product being advertised.
"The syndicate used the photos and videos without her consent in a bid to fool the public," he said.
The four suspects arrested in Shah Alam have been released on police bail while the other three have been remanded, he added.
"We advise the public to be careful with any products promoted online supposedly endorsed by public personalities and celebrities.
"In this case, not only is the endorsement fake, but the product itself is also fake. We fear it might have hazardous effects on those who use it.
"Verify the authenticity of any product before buying, especially health products," he said.
