Celebs bash online ads

Johannesburg model Shashi Naidoo has become the latest celebrity whose image was used without her permission to promote a weight-loss product.

Naidoo, along with television personalities Jeannie D and Basetsana Kumalo, have all fallen victim to an online weight-loss promo, advertising a product containing garcinia cambogia extract which claims to give slimmers miraculous results in a short period of time.

Naidoo, 34, has been forced to set the record straight on social media sites after her followers and fans questioned whether she had actually endorsed the product.

An ad for the product using Naidoo's image has popped up regularly on Facebook.

The advert states: "Shashi didn't want everyone to know that she's using a secret to keep her figure slim."

Naidoo labels the campaign "hilarious and a scam".

"It's ridiculous that I'm having to defend myself to people. I would never touch those things. I follow a balanced diet and I'm in the gym every day. That is my secret really.

"I run a modelling agency and I have to set a good example, so why would I be taking slimming pills?"

Naidoo hopes the public are a "little more street smart", about weight-loss campaigns that purport to have celebrity endorsement.

Unlike Kumalo, she is not planning on taking legal action.

Kumalo was furious when she was informed about the promo by a friend at a church service, and is investigating taking legal action against those behind the online pop-up adverts.

Jeannie D posted a warning to her fans, saying: "Please be aware that the Garcinia campaign is a scam. I do not endorse that product and it does not work. The only thing that works for weight-loss is a healthy, balanced diet and exercise.

"Do not be fooled by these dodgy people who fake testimonials from celebrities. It is a scam." The Times attempted to get comment from the manufacturers of the product but was unsuccessful.