The advertising and trade of health supplements with unverified origins are becoming increasingly complex on social media platforms. Numerous groups have utilized online health lectures to target and defraud consumers, particularly the elderly.
Methods of solicitation and psychological manipulation Sellers often impersonate medical assistants or specialist doctors to organize free health courses via Zalo and other social networks. After establishing trust through enthusiastic consultation, these groups begin soliciting customers to purchase products labeled as “oriental herbal medicine” or “traditional secrets.”
A typical case in Ho Chi Minh City involved a patient who spent over 37 million VND on nearly 20kg of products with no clear ingredients or importer information. Preliminary inspections by authorities revealed that these products violated labeling regulations and showed signs of being smuggled goods.
Misleading advertisements and medical risks In addition to impersonating experts, the online market is rife with advertisements that irrationally exaggerate product efficacy. A prominent example is lung sprays promoted as being able to instantly “cleanse” the lungs of heavy smokers. Medical experts emphasize that no product currently exists with the capacity to reverse lung damage caused by smoking as depicted in these promotional clips.
The unauthorized use of unverified preparations has led to severe consequences:
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Poisoning and allergies: Many patients have been hospitalized with kidney failure, severe dermatitis, or biochemical disorders after using functional foods of unknown origin.
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Missed treatment windows: Patients with chronic illnesses (cancer, diabetes, hypertension) tend to abandon orthodox treatment regimens in favor of online “miracle drugs,” leading to worsened conditions.
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Rise in counterfeits: Data from the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Drug Quality Control shows that the number of counterfeit drug samples detected in 2024 increased eightfold compared to 2022, including chemical drugs lacking active ingredients and functional foods illegally mixed with modern pharmaceuticals.
Regulatory agencies and experts advise the public to be cautious of advertisements promoting functional foods as curative medicines and to only use medical products that have been verified and carry full legal information on their labels.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bat-nhao-thi-truong-thuc-pham-chuc-nang-than-duoc-online-ai-cung-la-than-y-20260104235412206.htm