Celebrity Endorsements Fuel Online Supplement Scams Targeting Vietnamese Immigrants
Renowned Vietnamese American singer and emcee, Nguyễn Cao Kỳ Duyên, known for her role in the iconic variety show "Paris By Night," has become the unwitting face of an elaborate online supplement scam targeting Vietnamese immigrants. Ads featuring Nguyễn promoting Joint Bonus and Sugar Care, supplements promising joint pain relief and blood sugar control, have proliferated across YouTube and Facebook, luring unsuspecting elders with promises of improved health. While Nguyễn herself has not commented on the situation, her image and testimonials have been instrumental in building trust and driving sales, with many victims reporting spending hundreds, even thousands, of dollars on these ineffective products. This case highlights the growing threat of online scams exploiting language barriers and cultural connections to prey on vulnerable communities.
The deceptive marketing campaign utilizes sophisticated tactics, including targeted ads on social media, fake websites featuring fabricated medical professionals, and aggressive sales calls pushing customers to purchase more products. Victims like Johnny Dang, a 70-year-old retiree from California, were drawn in by Nguyễn’s familiar face and the promise of relief from chronic joint pain. Dang, a longtime fan of "Paris By Night," believed that a celebrity endorsement implied legitimacy. Like many others, he was soon contacted by sellers posing as doctors, urging him to increase his dosage and buy more supplements. Despite spending $500, Dang saw no improvement in his condition. This pattern of aggressive upselling and false promises is a hallmark of the scam.
Laboratory tests conducted on Joint Bonus and Sugar Care revealed concerning details. While Flora Labs found no traces of prescription drugs, IEH Laboratories & Consulting Group detected low levels of lead in Joint Bonus. Although the recommended dosage fell below California’s Prop 65 warning label threshold, the sellers frequently pressured customers to exceed this dosage, potentially exposing them to harmful levels of lead. Furthermore, numerous online reviews on Amazon echoed the complaints received by Documented, warning of rashes and labeling the product a "scam." A herbal medical practitioner in California confirmed receiving numerous calls from patients experiencing adverse reactions, including joint swelling, after using Joint Bonus.
The investigation by Documented and Viet Fact Check uncovered a vast network of online platforms used to promote the fraudulent supplements. Over 50 YouTube accounts were identified, many with names like "jointbonususa2024," churning out edited versions of the ads. Several of these videos garnered hundreds of thousands, even millions, of views before being taken down. The supplements were also listed on multiple Amazon pages at inflated prices compared to similar products. Furthermore, a network of at least eight websites, now mostly defunct, was created to lend an air of legitimacy to the operation. These websites featured stock photos of doctors, fake testimonials, and fabricated affiliations with reputable institutions.
The scammers even went so far as to impersonate trusted figures within the Vietnamese community. Cảnh Thiên, a licensed Doctor of Oriental Medicine in Southern California, became an unwitting target. Sellers registered websites using his name, ran Facebook ads featuring his image, and falsely claimed to work with him during sales calls. Thiên received a barrage of calls from confused and concerned patients, some reporting adverse reactions to Joint Bonus, a product he had never endorsed. Outraged by the exploitation of his reputation and the harm inflicted on his community, Thiên has taken action, gathering evidence, filing trademarks, and publicly denouncing the scammers.
This scheme highlights the vulnerability of immigrant communities to online misinformation and scams, especially those facing language barriers and limited access to healthcare. They often rely on online platforms and social media for information in their native language, making them susceptible to targeted campaigns like the one promoting Joint Bonus and Sugar Care. The scams exploit cultural trust and address genuine health concerns, making the deceptive marketing even more effective. While platforms like YouTube have pledged to combat medical misinformation, the sheer volume and evolving nature of these scams, often conducted in languages other than English, poses a significant challenge. Ultimately, increased awareness and critical thinking among consumers remain crucial in protecting against these predatory practices. Furthermore, continued investigative journalism and collaboration with community organizations are essential to exposing these scams and holding perpetrators accountable.