The Downfall of Counterfeit Titans: Exposing the Reign of Fake Goods Masters

Public outrage has never witnessed such a powerful crackdown on counterfeit goods trafficking and advertising on social media as in recent times.

From TikTokers and beauty queens to famous livestreaming families, numerous names once celebrated for their “non-stop sales” are now facing legal repercussions.

Numerous Celebrities and Influencers Arrested

Ngân 98 was prosecuted and detained for producing and selling counterfeit goods; Miss Thuỳ Tiên was implicated in a case involving the promotion of substandard products, leading to her prosecution and detention for “defrauding customers”; online sales tycoon Hoàng Hường was arrested for serious accounting violations; and the owner of the TikTok channel Gia đình Hải Sen, once famous for livestreams attracting hundreds of thousands of views, was prosecuted and detained for selling counterfeit goods.

Most recently, businessman Nguyễn Quốc Vũ (known as the husband of singer Đoàn Di Băng) was prosecuted and detained for investigation into the production and sale of counterfeit goods. Notably, just two years ago, in 2023, on a TV show, Mr. Vũ vehemently condemned the issue of counterfeit, fake, and substandard goods, which directly harm consumers and legitimate businesses. Now, he himself has been prosecuted for the same crime.

Once the “tycoons” and “queens” of the online sales world, these influencers and celebrities leveraged their fame and glamorous images to build their online business empires. However, by betraying consumer trust and profiting through illicit means, they have faced the consequences under the law.

Careers Shattered by Counterfeit Goods

A few years ago, these individuals were admired for capitalizing on the online business trend, turning livestreaming into a lucrative profession. However, behind the scenes of “sold-out” and “warehouse-clearing” sales was an ecosystem of goods with unclear origins, labeled as “company-authentic” to deceive buyers.

Experts argue that the consecutive downfall of these figures is the inevitable consequence of businesses built on trust rather than real value. When everything is founded on virtual fame and exaggerated advertising, collapse is only a matter of time.

When “Digital Trust” Becomes a Loophole for Counterfeits

According to a report by the Market Management Bureau of Ho Chi Minh City, in the first 8 months of 2025, the agency inspected 659 violations, imposing administrative fines totaling over 14.3 billion VND; more than 600,000 units of violating goods were seized, with a total value exceeding 15 billion VND. Authorities note that violations are becoming increasingly sophisticated, particularly the sale of counterfeit and fake goods via livestreams, where origin, invoices, and quality are difficult to verify.

The rapid spread of social media allows violating products to “trend” after just a few videos. Consumers are swayed not by quality certificates, but by familiar, glamorous images and celebrity endorsements.

Recently, authorities have launched multiple campaigns to dismantle counterfeit production and distribution networks online. Many cases have resulted in criminal charges, rather than just administrative fines as before. Authorities affirm their commitment to scrutinize and severely penalize those complicit in promoting violating products, regardless of their influencer status or follower count.

Consumers – The Last Line of Defense

Following a series of exposés, many consumers are reevaluating their online shopping habits. Instead of trusting advertisements, users are increasingly verifying product origins, quality certifications, and promptly reporting violations.

“The downfall of counterfeit ‘tycoons’ and ‘queens’ serves as a warning to online sellers and a wake-up call for consumers.