There is a new version of an old online scam making the rounds on Facebook and Instagram, and this one is particularly convincing because it borrows something people already recognize: Shark Tank. The advertisement looks like a clip from an actual episode, complete with the Sharks sitting behind their familiar desk while a supposed entrepreneur presents a breakthrough diabetes treatment. The story usually involves a father with type 2 diabetes, a dramatic health emergency and a simple honey, cinnamon or other kitchen-ingredient recipe that supposedly fixes the problem.
The problem is that the diabetes story has been attached to genuine television footage that originally had nothing to do with a diabetes cure. In the version I looked into, the footage comes from the EyeWris pitch on Shark Tank, where Mark and Kenzo Singer presented their wrist-worn reading glasses to the Sharks. The real episode was Season 14, Episode 22, and the original pitch was for an eyewear company, not a diabetes supplement.
That one detail tells you a lot about how this scam works. The scammers don’t necessarily need to create an entire fake episode from scratch. They can take something that already looks authentic, change the audio, edit the video and insert a completely different story around it. Once the viewer recognizes Shark Tank, the advertisement has already borrowed some credibility before the diabetes product is even mentioned.
The Real Shark Tank Pitch Was for EyeWris
This is the part I think is easiest to miss when watching one of these advertisements.
The original footage features Mark and Kenzo Singer pitching EyeWris, a pair of reading glasses that fold and can be worn around the wrist. ABC’s official Shark Tank channel published the pitch, identifying it as Season 14’s finale, Episode 22. The description says the father-and-son team was seeking investment for their wearable reading-glasses company.
Shark Tank Global also published the same pitch and identifies the product as EyeWris. There is nothing in the genuine footage about a diabetic father collapsing on stage, a secret honey recipe, a parasite in the pancreas or a Cinna Shield diabetes treatment.
So when you see this footage in an advertisement for a diabetes product, don’t assume you’re watching an undiscovered Shark Tank episode. You’re looking at genuine footage that has apparently been repurposed for an entirely different sales pitch.
How the Fake Shark Tank Diabetes Video Works
What makes the advertisement effective is that it doesn’t look like an ordinary supplement commercial. Instead of opening with somebody standing in front of a camera saying, “Buy this product,” it tries to make you believe you’ve stumbled across a television segment that exposes a secret diabetes breakthrough.
The edited video may show the Sharks reacting to something that was never actually said in the original episode. AI-generated voices can then be used to make the altered footage appear to contain a conversation about blood sugar, diabetes and a supposedly revolutionary natural treatment. Once the fake dialogue is combined with real Shark Tank footage, someone who has never watched the original EyeWris pitch could have no idea that the scenes have been taken out of context.
This is exactly the kind of impersonation problem that regulators have been warning about as generative AI becomes easier to use. The FTC has specifically discussed the growing use of AI-generated deepfakes and voice cloning in impersonation fraud.
Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz and Dr. Sanjay Gupta Are Used to Add More Credibility
The Shark Tank footage isn’t the only familiar face being used in this campaign.
The advertisements circulating around this diabetes story have also used manipulated or AI-generated depictions of people including Dr. Phil McGraw, Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Sanjay Gupta. The basic idea is simple: if viewers see a recognizable doctor apparently discussing the product, they may assume the treatment has been medically investigated.
That is particularly dangerous when the video starts talking about reversing type 2 diabetes.
A doctor’s face appearing in a Facebook advertisement is not evidence that the doctor endorsed the product. With today’s AI tools, it is possible to manipulate a person’s appearance and voice well enough to make an advertisement look surprisingly authentic. The FTC has acknowledged that fraudsters are using AI tools to impersonate individuals and that voice cloning and AI-generated deepfakes are increasing the scale of these scams.
The Cinna Shield Diabetes Scam
One of the products being pushed through this particular campaign is Cinna Shield.
The sales story revolves around the familiar “secret recipe” idea. Viewers are told about a natural combination involving ingredients such as honey and cinnamon, with the advertisement presenting the mixture as something that can supposedly restore healthy blood sugar levels or reverse type 2 diabetes.
This is where the advertisement changes from a fake television story into a product sales funnel.
The simple recipe is the bait. Once someone becomes interested in the supposed breakthrough, they are directed toward a longer presentation explaining why the recipe supposedly works and why the viewer needs a particular supplement to get the promised results.
That is a much more effective sales technique than simply putting Cinna Shield in front of someone and asking them to buy it.
There Is Now a Real Complaint About Cinna Shield
There is also a recent BBB Scam Tracker report that makes this particular campaign worth taking seriously.
On September 15, 2026, a consumer reported to BBB Scam Tracker that they watched a video featuring what appeared to be Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz discussing diabetes, low blood sugar and a supposed parasite in the pancreas. The consumer said the video promoted a natural treatment involving honey, cinnamon and other ingredients and then automatically directed them to the Cinna Shield website.
According to the complaint, the person purchased three bottles and received three additional bottles, for a reported charge of $149.88. They said they attempted to cancel the order the same day by email and later tried calling the telephone number provided, but reported that they could not successfully reach the company. The BBB report identifies Cinna Shield.com and lists the complaint as an “Other” scam type.
That report is a consumer’s account, rather than a government finding that Cinna Shield is fraudulent, so I wouldn’t use one complaint as proof of every allegation surrounding the product. What it does show is that people are encountering this advertising and at least one consumer has reported paying for the product after following the video funnel.
Why the Honey and Cinnamon Recipe Is So Effective
The “miracle recipe” part of this scam is actually quite clever from a marketing perspective because honey and cinnamon are ordinary things that people recognize. You don’t need to understand a complicated pharmaceutical formula to become interested in the idea that a few ingredients from the kitchen could solve a difficult health problem.
The advertisement can therefore spend the first part of the video talking about a supposedly forgotten discovery instead of selling a supplement directly. By the time the product appears, the viewer may already believe they have learned something valuable.
But there is no reason to assume that a recipe becomes a diabetes treatment simply because it contains familiar natural ingredients.
The Federal Trade Commission specifically warns consumers about health scams that claim a product can cure diseases or produce miraculous results. Its consumer guidance also explains that dietary supplements are not evaluated or approved by the FDA for safety and effectiveness in the same way prescription drugs are.
The Sales Funnel Is Longer Than the Advertisement
Another thing that stands out is what happens after someone clicks the social media advertisement.
The Facebook or Instagram ad is designed to get attention. The fake Shark Tank footage establishes credibility. The doctor or celebrity deepfake makes the story appear medically legitimate. The honey or cinnamon recipe creates curiosity. Then the viewer is sent to another page or video where the product is finally introduced.
That long video is important because it gives the seller much more time to persuade someone than a normal advertisement would.
Instead of saying, “Here is Cinna Shield; buy it,” the sales presentation can spend 30 minutes or more explaining the supposed cause of diabetes, introducing a fake expert or testimonial, describing a miracle ingredient and telling the viewer that they have found something the medical establishment supposedly doesn’t want them to know about.
By the end of the presentation, the viewer isn’t simply buying a bottle. They are buying into an entire story.
And Then There Is the Subscription Problem
This is another part of these supplement funnels that deserves attention.
The offer may appear to be a straightforward multi-bottle deal, but buyers need to look carefully at the checkout terms before entering their card details. Some health-supplement funnels use recurring billing, meaning that the initial purchase isn’t necessarily the last charge.
The recent BBB complaint involving Cinna Shield is particularly relevant because the consumer said they tried to cancel shortly after placing the order and were unable to get a response. The reported charge was $149.88.
That doesn’t establish that every Cinna Shield customer will be enrolled in a recurring plan, but it is enough reason to keep the order confirmation, read the checkout page carefully and monitor the card used for the purchase.
If another charge appears later, the buyer should have documentation showing exactly what they originally agreed to.
Why Facebook and Instagram Keep Appearing in These Stories
These scams are not limited to one product or one advertiser. Social media has become an attractive place for scammers because advertisements can be targeted at enormous audiences quickly.
The FTC reported in 2026 that people reported losing $2.1 billion to scams that started on social media in 2025, and nearly 30% of people who reported losing money to a scam said it began on social media. The FTC also noted that scammers can use paid advertising and the same targeting tools available to legitimate businesses to reach people based on interests and demographics.
The FTC has previously required major social media and video platforms, including Meta, to provide information about how they scrutinize and restrict deceptive advertising, including fraudulent healthcare products.
So if you see a suspicious diabetes advertisement on Facebook or Instagram, the fact that it appears as a paid advertisement does not mean the platform has medically verified the claims.
This Isn’t Just About Cinna Shield
This is the part I would remember if you come across another product tomorrow using a different name.
The product can change while the advertising formula stays almost identical. Today it might be Cinna Shield. Another advertisement may promote a different blood sugar supplement. The video might use Dr. Oz instead of Dr. Phil, or it might replace the Shark Tank footage with a fake television interview.
The common ingredients are the fake authority, the dramatic health story, the supposed secret recipe and the immediate transition into a product sales funnel.
That is why searching only for the product name isn’t always enough. Someone may search “Cinna Shield reviews” and find very little information, while the same people behind the campaign may already be promoting another product under another name.
Can a Supplement Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?
This is where I would ignore the sales video completely and go back to established medical information.
Type 2 diabetes is a real medical condition that requires appropriate management. An online advertisement claiming that a honey recipe or dietary supplement can simply reverse it should not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
The FTC specifically identifies claims that supplements can cure diseases as a common feature of health scams. It also warns that “natural” doesn’t automatically mean safe or effective and that supplements can interfere with proven treatments.
That doesn’t mean every ingredient mentioned in these videos is useless. Honey, cinnamon and other foods can be part of a normal diet, and individual ingredients may be studied for different effects. It means the extraordinary claim that a particular secret mixture can reverse type 2 diabetes requires reliable evidence, not a manipulated television clip.
My Take on the Shark Tank Diabetes Scam
After tracing the story back to the original Shark Tank footage, the picture becomes much clearer. The genuine EyeWris pitch is real and can be found on official Shark Tank/ABC channels, but it was a pitch for wrist-worn reading glasses, not a diabetes treatment.
The diabetes advertisement takes advantage of that familiarity and combines it with manipulated video, AI-generated or altered audio, recognizable medical personalities and a “miracle recipe” narrative. Cinna Shield is then presented as the answer at the end of the funnel. A recent BBB Scam Tracker complaint shows that at least one consumer followed that path, purchased the product and subsequently reported difficulty getting the order cancelled.
Conclusion
For anyone searching Shark Tank diabetes scam, the biggest thing to understand is that seeing familiar faces on screen doesn’t establish an endorsement. In this case, the original Shark Tank footage can be traced to a completely different product, and the diabetes story has been attached to it afterward.
The technology makes these advertisements look more believable, but the underlying trick is actually quite old: borrow somebody else’s credibility, tell a compelling health story, create urgency and move the viewer into a sales funnel before they have time to check whether the story is real.
And that’s exactly why I would not enter payment information simply because an advertisement appears to show the Sharks, Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz or another recognizable medical personality recommending a diabetes cure. The FTC itself has warned about fake endorsements and miracle health claims, while its recent data shows just how much fraud now begins on social media.
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