Woman fined RM50,000 for promoting COVID-19 repelling bracelets on Facebook

A direct-sales agent was slapped with a RM50,000 compound for promoting bracelets that claims to ward off COVID-19 on her Facebook page. The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry had investigated the seller after receiving several complaints when the bracelet went viral on social media.

It was reported that the bracelet was sold at RM580 each and claims to ward off COVID-19. According to the Ministry’s enforcement director Datuk Iskandar Halim Sulaiman, her action in promoting the product by giving a misleading statement is an offence under Section 10 (1) (h) of the Consumer Protection Act 1999. She was issued a maximum compound of RM50,000. The authorities will take legal action if she fails to pay the compound.

The enforcement director added that the Ministry is serious in ensuring that consumers are not deceived by promotions or misleading statements on the use of a product. He says that anyone selling or promoting products should comply with the rules and regulations set by the government.

This isn’t the first time sellers are taking advantage of the pandemic to promote products. During the early phases of the MCO, a supposed “health tag” with Chroline Dioxide went viral claiming that it can provide protection against COVID-19. The National Poison Centre and the Ministry of Health have debunked such claims and studies have shown that it does nothing to prevent infections of viruses including COVID-19. The manufacturer had issued a statement clarifying that its products are not a substitute for personal hygiene practices such as washing hands with soap and water, using hand sanitisers and face masks.

With the conspiracy theories linking 5G to COVID-19 on the rise in the UK, some sellers were promoting USB Keys that claim to provide anti-5G protection that are priced more than RM1,500. The product claims to provide a force field bubble with diameter of 8 metres standalone and the coverage can be expanded up to 40 metres when the USB key is plugged in.

Obviously, the anti-5G USB Key is a scam and it’s nothing but a 128MB flash drive with a fancy 3D hologram element. These products are not only a waste of money but it also provides buyers a false sense of safety.

[ SOURCE , IMAGE SOURCE ]

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