TIDAK PASTI? TIDAK BELI
A consumer awareness campaign by BREGO Life Sciences
Helping Malaysians make safer choices when purchasing health supplements, especially online.
Tidak Pasti? Tidak Beli
“When you’re not sure, don’t buy”, is a public awareness campaign from BREGO Life Sciences. It’s built around one habit: pause, verify and seek trusted advice before purchasing health supplement products, especially from unfamiliar or unauthorised sources such as e-commerce platforms.
At BREGO, we have identified counterfeit versions of our own products, including Bionerv and Mobithron Advance, being sold online in Malaysia. We have taken action to investigate suspicious products, test samples, report counterfeit listings and alert consumers and healthcare professionals.
But recently, one case made us realise that taking down listings alone was not enough. We learned of a consumer who had purchased counterfeit Bionerv online, consumed the product and was subsequently facing health issues.
That is why we created Tidak Pasti? Tidak Beli , to encourage consumers to pause, verify and seek trusted advice before buying health supplements.
Buying from fake sellers brings a host of problems. Some, like 54- year-old Chan Wai Mun, may end up receiving counterfeit products. While many may not suffer adverse effects from taking fake products – counterfeiters make the biggest profit by not causing obvious harm to their victims – Chan was not so lucky.
As a cancer patient newly in remission, he had been taking BioNerv by BREGO Life Sciences, a supplement to help remove numbness caused by his cancer treatment. He told Bernama in a phone interview that the supplement he received initially from the hospital worked well. His troubles began when he bought the supplement online after finishing the boxes he purchased from the hospital.
“A few months down the road, when I went (for my) checkup withmy haematologist, you know, he was very alarmed… all my liver enzymes had shot up through the roof. I had liver inflammation,” he said.
Chan had to be hospitalised until his levels dropped.
Looking back, he said he should have suspected something because the price was lower than the standard price at pharmacies.
Source: BERNAMA, 19 August 2026
Excerpted from “Doctors, Pharmacies Battle Rising Tide Of AI-driven Health Scams”
Counterfeit health supplements are not a distant issue. We have seen the problem affect our own products here in Malaysia. In 2024, the Ministry of Health seized 21,571 items involving medicines, cosmetics and raw materials nationwide, with a total seizure value of RM37.5 million. It was reported that nearly 70% of confiscated products were linked to complaints involving the online sale of medicines. (Source: NST)
The danger of a counterfeit health supplement isn’t always obvious. It may not look different. You may not feel anything immediately. Sometimes, it simply doesn’t work as expected. Sometimes, the consequences can be far more serious.
Counterfeit Supplements May Harm Your Health
Buying counterfeit supplements is not just about losing money, but it could be quietly harming your health. The packaging may look convincing, but the contents may be very different. Counterfeit health products may contain incorrect ingredients, incorrect amounts of ingredients, contaminants, or no active ingredient at all.
Why Buying Online Requires Extra Caution
Online listings can look convincing, familiar product images, similar packaging, customer reviews and attractive pricing can all create a sense of trust. But these cues alone do not prove that a health supplement is genuine.
Rachel Gan, honorary secretary of the Malaysian Community Pharmacy Guild, has raised concerns about how thoroughly e-commerce platforms vet their sellers, particularly in sensitive categories like pharmaceuticals and health supplements, questioning whether current checks are enough to keep counterfeit listings off these platforms.
— Rachel Gan, Honorary Secretary, Malaysian Community Pharmacy Guild (Source: The Star)
Before You Buy
PAUSE
Be cautious of unusually low prices or sellers you don’t recognise.
VERIFY
Check:
- Seller/source, is it an official pharmacy store or someone using their name
- Scan the FarmaTag hologram where applicable
- MAL registration number (Although this could be copied)
ASK
Still unsure? Speak to a pharmacist, healthcare professional. The safest choice is to purchase the supplement in-store.
Remember, Tidak Pasti? Tidak Beli.
How to Report if You Suspect A Counterfeit
If you suspect a Counterfeit Product:
- If the product was purchased online, report the seller immediately to the respective online marketplace platform (e.g. Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop) to help prevent further distribution.
- Do not use the product.
- Keep the item and proof of purchase (receipt/order details).
You may also report to the relevant authorities:
- Bahagian Penguatkuasaan Farmasi, KKM at 03-7841 3200
- SISPAA Portal: https://moh.spab.gov.my/eApps/system/index.do
- Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri Dan Kos Sara Hidup, KPDN via Portal: https://eaduan.kpdn.gov.my/
Disclaimer: This is a public advisory for counterfeit awareness and patient safety. It is not a medicine/device advertisement and does not contain product claims. For medical advice, please consult a healthcare professional. BREGO is unable to verify products purchased from unauthorised sellers and cannot guarantee their safety or authenticity.
