FTC Sends $103,420 in Refunds to Consumers for Deceptive Marketing

FTC Press Releases

Filed February 1st, 2026

Detected February 12th, 2026

Summary

The FTC is sending over $40,700 in refunds to 578 consumers who purchased deceptively marketed products from Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical between July 2017 and July 2020. The refunds stem from a court order against the company and its director for making false health claims.

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What changed

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is distributing over $40,700 in refunds to 578 consumers who were misled by Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical, Inc. and its medical director, Dr. Stephen Meis, regarding the efficacy of certain health products. This action follows a June 2021 settlement order against Meis and a September 2025 summary decision against Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical, Golden Sunrise Pharmaceutical, and Huu Tieu, barring them from making unsupported health claims. The FTC is sending checks to eligible consumers who bought products between July 2017 and July 2020, with recipients expected to cash checks within 90 days.

Consumers who purchased specific treatment plans, including the Primary Plan of Care, Emergency D-Virus Plan of Care, Metabolic Plan of Care, and Cancer Plan of Care, are eligible for refunds. Those who submitted a valid claim are receiving full reimbursement, while others may receive a $20 payment. The FTC has also mailed claim IDs to eligible consumers who have not yet filed a claim, with an online claim submission deadline of May 12, 2026. Consumers with questions can contact the refund administrator, Simpluris. The FTC emphasizes that it never requires payment or account information to receive refunds.

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Tags:

Consumer Protection
Regional Offices
Southwest Region
Bureau of Consumer Protection
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Health Care
Over-the-Counter Drugs and Devices
Advertising and Marketing
Health Claims
Advertising and Marketing Basics The Federal Trade Commission is sending checks to eligible consumers who bought certain products deceptively marketed by Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical, Inc. between July 2017 and July 2020.

In June 2021, the FTC announced a settlement order with Dr. Stephen Meis, the medical director of Golden Sunrise over allegations he took part in deceptively advertising a $23,000 treatment plan as a scientifically proven way to treat COVID-19, and used false or unproven claims that other treatment plans could cure cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Meis was barred from making similar unsupported health claims in the future and ordered to pay $103,420, which the FTC is using for its payments to consumers.

In September 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California issued a summary decision in the FTC’s favor against the remaining defendants—Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical, Golden Sunrise Pharmaceutical, and Huu Tieu—and barred them from making unsupported health claims in the future.

In January 2025, the FTC sent claim forms to consumers who bought certain deceptively marketed treatment plans from Golden Sunrise, between July 2017 and July 2020, including: Primary Plan of Care, Emergency D-Virus Plan of Care, Metabolic Plan of Care, and Cancer Plan of Care.

The FTC is sending checks totaling more than $40,700 to 578 affected consumers. Eligible consumers who submitted a valid claim are getting all their money back. The remaining eligible consumers who did not submit a claim are getting a check for $20. Recipients should cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check.

The agency also is mailing claim IDs to those eligible consumers who have not yet submitted a claim. These recipients can file a claim online for an additional payment at www.ftc.gov/GoldenSunrise. The deadline to submit a claim is May 12, 2026.

Consumers who have questions about their payment or the claims process should contact the refund administrator, Simpluris, at 844-804-3922 or by email at info@goldensunriserefund.com. The Commission never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a payment.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and protect and educate consumers. The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize. Learn more about consumer topics at consumer.ftc.gov, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts.