Magda Szubanski Warns of ‘Bulls*** Scam’ Using Her Name to Flog Dodgy Health Product – But She’s Not the Only Aussie Icon Being Targeted by Online Con Artists
- Aussie actress and comedian Magda Szubanski has been targeted by online scammers using her name to promote a health product with ‘no scientific basis’
- The 64-year-old star revealed she’s been the face of several online scams since going public with her cancer diagnosis last year
- TV doctor Dr Ginni Mansberg has also been victim to the same scam, with her name and image used to flog the product
Magda Szubanski is the latest victim of an online scam using her name to promote a dodgy health product, but she’s not the only Aussie icon being targeted by con artists.
The 64-year-old actress and comedian took to Instagram to warn her fans of the ‘bulls*** scam’ that claims she and TV doctor Dr Ginni Mansberg have endorsed a product called Vital Hemp.
Szubanski, who revealed she was in remission from cancer in February, shared a video on Instagram confirming she had never met Dr Mansberg or had any conversation with her about the product.
“I have never met Dr Ginni Mansberg let alone had a conversation in public or in private with her about how, when, where, why, how often I wee,” Szubanski said.
“There’s something going around on the internet. It’s just a scam trying to flog some product called Vital Hemp.
It’s all bulls***.”
This is not the first time Dr Mansberg’s name and image have been misused to promote the product. In July last year, the Sydney GP revealed a fake, AI-generated video advertisement had been circulating online using her likeness.
In a video shared on Facebook, Mansberg issued her own warning that the health ad was a scam. “It’s not evidence based,” Mansberg said.
“It’s not me.”
Szubanski first revealed in May last year she had been diagnosed with stage 4 mantle cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. Since going public with her diagnosis, Szubanski has been targeted by several online health scams.
Earlier this year, scammers created social media posts and fundraisers using fake images of the star in a hospital bed, encouraging followers to donate money.
Szubanski stressed any legitimate updates about her or her health would only appear on her official Instagram page.
“The rule of thumb I would say is if you want to know if something is true or whether I’ve said it, come to my Instagram page and that’s where I put my posts,” she said.
“This is very annoying, and I really hope you haven’t wasted your money.”
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The online scam targeting Magda Szubanski and Dr Ginni Mansberg is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to online health scams in Australia.
With the rise of social media, it’s become easier for scammers to target vulnerable individuals with fake health products and treatments.
Security analysts say that online health scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using AI-generated videos and fake images to convince people to part with their money.
Law enforcement insiders warn that online health scams are a major concern, with many Australians losing thousands of dollars to these scams every year. “It’s a growing problem, and we’re seeing more and more cases of online health scams every year,” said one insider.
“We urge people to be cautious when it comes to online health products and to always do their research before parting with their money.”
Industry observers believe that the online health scam industry is worth millions of dollars, with scammers using fake products and treatments to prey on vulnerable individuals.
“It’s a lucrative industry, and scammers are making a lot of money from these scams,” said one observer. “We need to do more to educate people about the dangers of online health scams and to crack down on these scammers.”
As for Magda Szubanski, she’s just relieved that she can use her platform to warn others about the scam. “Happy Friday, love you all,” she said at the end of her video.
“I hope you haven’t wasted your money.”
