CELEBRITIES such as athletes, actors and artistes are often used to endorse products, hoping that their fan base will catch on to it.
One area where such marketing tactics are regularly used is health products, most commonly on social media.
However, it has been said that not all products claiming celebrity endorsement are legitimate, with some even being fake.
Is this true?
VERDICT:
TRUE
In a statement on Sunday (May 19), Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf cautioned the public to be wary of suspicious health products using celebrity names for marketing purposes.
He added that such advertisements on social media have been used to manipulate victims into falling for scams.
"Several sellers have manipulated the platform by selling fake health products.
"More worryingly, several of these products use images of famous individuals to confuse users, giving the impression that (these celebrities) produced them," he said.
He said the CCID had recently been informed of such a ploy, with the supposed "endorsers" saying that personal images and company names had been used without permission.
Comm Ramli added that it was concerning as such products could also negatively impact the users' health.
"Using such advertisements to confuse and cheat buyers is an irresponsible act and an offence under the law," he said.
Comm Ramli urged the people to be wary of such postings and seek advice from the Health Ministry before purchasing.
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