It’s not uncommon for scammers to use celebrity faces and false endorsements to sell their products on social media.
And it seems not even royals are immune to it, with Princess Mary of Denmark said to be the latest embroiled in a scam.
A number of publications have reported that the Danish royal’s name has been falsely linked to a number of ‘dangerous’ diet pills labelled ‘Pure Cambogia Ultra’ and ‘Pure Life Cleanse.’
Targeted: Princess Mary’s name has reportedly been falsely linked to a number of ‘dangerous’ diet pills labelled ‘Pure Cambogia Ultra’ and ‘Pure Life Cleanse’
False: According to Woman’s Day, the ad about Princess Mary claimed that the she turned to the weight loss product to help her lose weight after giving birth to her twins, now five
Many scammers have been selling weight loss products they claim contain Garcinia Cambogia, a ‘metabolism boosting’ citrus fruit that grows in Southeast Asia, for years.
To do so, celebrity names like Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and Khloe Kardashian have been used to endorse the pills without permission.
According to Woman’s Day, the ad about Princess Mary claimed that she turned to the weight loss product to help her lose weight after giving birth to her twins, now five.
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Not the only one: Scammers have been selling weight loss products they claim contain Garcinia Cambogia for years (pictured using Khloe Kardashian and a stolen Women’s Health logo to sell the products)
Bizarre: ‘When she was at her heaviest she weighed 86kg and after exercising without success, she got depressed and her life fell apart,’ the ad reportedly read
‘My body fat simply melted away like butter’: They also falsely quoted the royal as saying she endorsed the product
‘When she was at her heaviest she weighed 86kg and after exercising without success, she got depressed and her life fell apart,’ the ad reportedly read.
They also falsely quoted the royal as saying she endorsed the product.
‘I did not even have to change my diet or exercise, my body fat simply melted away like butter!’
Woman’s Day writes that the royal court of Denmark has demanded these false ads be recalled and confirmed that they were not true.
WHAT IS GARCINIA CAMBOGIA?
Garcinia cambogia, a tropical fruit also known as the Malabar tamarind, is a popular weight-loss supplement.
People say it blocks your body’s ability to make fat and it puts the brakes on your appetite. It could help keep blood sugar and cholesterol levels in check, too.
In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration warned everyone to stop using a weight-loss product that contained garcinia cambogia because some people taking it got serious problems.
The product had other ingredients, too, so it’s not clear that garcinia cambogia was to blame. While some research suggests the supplement is safe for your liver, other research says no.
Source: WebMD
No truth to it: Woman’s Day writes that the royal court of Denmark has demanded these false ads be recalled and confirmed that they were not true
Scandal: The Princess’ scam also made the cover of Danish magazine Her Nu
According to New Idea, ‘insiders’ say Princess Mary is ‘furious’ and ‘horrified that girls and women think she is endorsing controversial diet products’ as she is a patron of the World Health Organisation and a strong advocate for a healthy, active lifestyle.
Another issue is that those purchasing the pills as a result of the endorsement often have no clue what they are buying or who they are truly buying them from.
The story also made the cover of Danish magazine Her Nu.
Princess Mary is just one of many celebrities who have found themselves being used to promote the product, with celebrity doctor, Dr Oz, also a target.
One of many: Princess Mary is just one of many celebrities who have found themselves being used to promote the product, with celebrity doctor, Dr Oz, also a target
In 2013, Dr Oz promoted the Garcinia Cambogia products on a show in which it was called a ‘revolutionary fat buster’ and a weight loss ‘breakthrough.’
As a result, his words have been used to sell countless ‘dodgy’ products and he was mentioned in the ad featuring Princess Mary where it was falsely claimed that he ‘introduced’ her to the product.
In February, Dr Oz was sued for promoting Garcinia Cambogia, which ‘all credible scientific evidence’ proves doesn’t work, despite not naming any brands.
A representative for The Dr Oz Show has since said the lawsuit is an attack on free speech.
‘As we have always explained to our viewers, The Dr Oz Show does not sell these products nor does he have any financial ties to these companies,’ they told TMZ.
Dangerous? A number of celebrity photos have been stolen to sell the supplements
Khloe Kardashian is also being used to sell the controversial product in an ad almost identical to the one Princess Mary was named in.
‘Khloe Kardashian, who wore a size 18 then, watched the pounds melt away. At her heaviest she weighed 237 pounds, after trying everything possible without any success, she fell into depression and her life almost fell apart,’ it reads.
‘She didn’t want surgery and didn’t know what to do next, until she saw Doctor Oz talk about Garcinia Pure Select and Vital Cleanse Complete.
Not proven: Garcinia Cambogia is a ‘metabolism boosting’ citrus fruit that grows in Southeast Asia
‘Khloe decided to give it a try, considering she had nothing to lose. That day changed her life forever. Now others are following her lead.’
Women’s Health Magazine has also been targeted by the scammers, who often use their logo to sell the products.
‘Women’s Health does not endorse African Mango Diet Pills, Garcinia Cambogia Extract, Wholemega Diet Pills, or Green Coffee Bean Extract, or Raspberry Ketone Diet,’ they said in a statement.