BBB of
WESTERN MICHIGAN, INC
CONSUMER ARTICLE
Issued: 05-03-2011
Contact: Ken Vander Meeden
616-774-8236 or Email: bbbceo@iserv.net
www.bbb.org
BBB
Warns of Phony Acai Berry
Weight Loss Products
GRAND
RAPIDS, MI – May 2,
2011 –
In conjunction with the Federal
Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent lawsuits on acai berry weight loss products, Better Business
Bureau is warning consumers to be wary of phony “news” announcements of free
trial offers for online diet pills.
According
to the FTC, millions of consumers are being lured to websites that imitate
those of reputable news organizations. The “reporters” on these sites
have supposedly done independent evaluations of acai berry supplements, and
claim that their products cause major weight loss in a short period of time
with no diet or exercise. In reality the websites are deceptive
advertisements placed by third-party or “affiliate” marketers. The
websites are aimed at enticing consumers to buy the featured acai berry
weight-loss products. These fake news operations are the subject of a
nationwide law enforcement initiative.
Ubiquitous deceptive online ads for the
acai berry weight loss products can be found posing to be from popular outlets
like ABC, Fox News, CBS, CNN,
USA Today and Consumer Reports. According to the FTC, the defendants collectively
have paid more than $10 million to advertise their fake news sites, and have
likely received well in excess of that amount in ill-gotten commissions.
In 2010, the FTC filed an action against
acai berry marketer Central
Coast Nutraceuticals which has an F rating with BBB. According to the more
than 2,800 complaints to the Central, Northern and Western Arizona BBB the
company deceptively marketed acai berry supplements as weight-loss products, and
“colon cleansers” along with a variety of refund and exchange issues.
“Fighting deceptive free trial offers
online continues to be a game of whack-a-mole,” said Ken Vander Meeden,
President, BBB of Western Michigan. “Just
as soon as one company is put out of business it’s replaced by another with the
same model of ripping consumers off under the guise of a no-risk free trial
offer.”
“Before signing up for any free trial
offer, read the fine print carefully and always check the company out with BBB.
You’ll save time and money by avoiding the hassle and recurring charges of some
unscrupulous offers,” added Cox.
Additional advice on signing up for free
trial offers is available at www.bbb.org/us/article/free-trial-offers--are-they-good-deals-425.
Consumers who believe they have been misled by a free trial offer can file a
complaint online with the BBB at www.bbb.org.
Reporters: for more information or to
schedule an interview with a BBB spokesperson, contact Ken Vander Meeden at
616-774-8236.
About Better Business
Bureau
As the leader in advancing marketplace trust, Better Business Bureau is an
unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair
and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 65 million consumers rely
on BBB Business Reviews® and BBB Wise Giving Reports® to help them
find trustworthy businesses and charities across North
America. Visit www.bbb.org/us
for more information.