The Acai Berry Scams...

[WillBrink]

Scams come and go in the supplement industry, and while apparently this one has been going on a while, it’s a big one. Acai Berry a berry from South America, which like all “miracle foods” before it, promises to cure pretty much everything, is right at the heart of a scam which has cost the US public millions of dollars and a lot of frustration.

Acai is sold for everything from weight loss, muscle building, and anti aging, to a cure for cancer.

Minus of course a drop of real science to support the claims and marketed as “the world’s No. 1 super-food” and other BS … Interestingly, this scam has two faces, one the product itself, the other, the real biggie, the way it’s billed. Par for the course with such products, the marketing hype far surpasses the science.

Let’s talk about the billing scam first.

Although not only associated with Acai products, this scam seems to have gone hand in hand with Acai products presumably because people are so desperate to lose weight they will buy into anything that looks like it’s got the edge.

The scam often goes like this:

You click on some tantalizing advert somewhere and find a web site offering a free bottle of product or a website showing you where you can get a free bottle of the supplements.

Generally speaking you initially end up on a fake blog, you can spot them a mile away , they tend to be called something like “Janets-weightlossblog.com” ( I made that up , no idea if it exists) .The blog / website shows faked testimonials, and before and after photos of “Janet” which have clearly been edited with software like Adobe Photo Shop, Janet , by the way , doesn’t exist, never did, Janet is typically just a stock photo grabbed from the internet, the name a figment of the scammers imagination.

“Janet” then goes on to explain how she tried everything, blah blah, and how she set up the website just to “help” people out like her, she then goes on to explain how she used this amazing product and how you can get a bottle for free and also lose 30lbs in 30 days.

The websites often show Youtube videos of Oprah or a major news outlet, supposedly correlating the ridiculous claims about the product. Fortunately for the scammers I guess nobody actually clicks and plays the videos because they tend to have absolutely nothing to do with the claims being made by the website promoting the product.

In fact it would seem Oprah and other celebrities are trying to sue the firms promoting Acai using their images or suggesting they support their ludicrous claims.

Back to the fake blogs.

The person who set this fake blog/website up then gets paid by the advertiser everytime somebody takes out the free trial. (Note, I’ve also actually seen them setup fake newspaper websites as well as blogs, these guys are pretty tricky).

You’re probably thinking , how can they get paid if the product’s being given away for free, read on my friends….
It’s only “FREE” on the surface, it’s actually anything but FREE.

Here’s the nasty part of the Acai Berry rebill scam.

They charge a “nominal fee for shipping and handling”, like $5, this has little to do with the handling and everything to do with getting your credit card details.

What follows then are unauthorized credit card charges – some up to $80 per month – that can’t be stopped.

This has happened all over the ‘net, and people have had to cancel their credit cards to get it to stop. Sure, some companies have gotten nailed for this, but many still get away with it. For example, according to an ABC News Report:

“FWM Labs, based in Hollywood, Fla., maintained a Web site promoting acai capsules. The site offered a “free” sample for a nominal fee for shipping and handling.

What followed, authorities say, were unauthorized $80 monthly credit card charges that couldn’t be stopped.

WPLG, ABC’s Miami affiliate, tried to talk with the company in person — and was referred to the company’s attorneys.

Alleged victims said they had to cancel their credit cards to get charges to stop. FWM finally agreed to pay $200,000 in penalties, refund millions to customers and stop its allegedly misleading marketing.”

The Take Home Lesson on the Rebill Saga...

Lesson here folks, nothing of this nature is truly free, so if you see one of these fake blogs or fake newspaper sites offering free product that you just have to give your credit card info to cover shipping and handling fees – be it an acai product or other – be wary.

There’s nothing wrong with paying monthly for legit supplements, or a wine club or indeed a myriad of other things but if you end up at one of these fake blogs then run a mile, “Janet” never existed, your card will be rebilled for huge amounts each month, you won’t be able to contact the company , they won’t take your calls, the only option will be to cancel your card.
I should note that these guys running the Acai Berry rebill scam also rebadge Acai Berry for numerous uses, weight loss, colon cleanse, muscle building, there’s even some running for penis enlargement and confidence boosters. Beware , these guys come in many forms, but the websites are pretty easy to suss out.

So what of acai itself? Yes, it’s a berry – like many others – loaded with anti oxidants, and like many such fruits, may have some potential health benefits. It has no real weight loss effects, will not cure cancer, will not improve your libido, etc.Food scientist in the U.S., at Texas A&M University, Dr. Steve Talcott sums it up well in the ABC News report;

“It’s not a miracle berry, unfortunately. It is superior in antioxidants; it does have a very high antioxidant capacity. There is some really unique chemistry to the fruit. But it’s not a drug. It’s not a miracle, cure-all fruit. I mean this is a dietary component. The recommendation is to incorporate these fruits into our diet, but don’t use them as drugs."

Bottom Line: Acai – like most “super foods” that make ridiculous promises not supported by the science, are usually sold via multi level marketing companies (MLM) and or fly by night ‘net based companies, and my faith in both is non existent. Acai, like most dark fruits, berries, etc is high in anti oxidants, and perfectly healthy as part of an overall nutrition and exercise plan, but don’t get swept up in the marketing hype, and what ever you do, don’t fall for the re bill scam by giving out your credit card info for a “free” bottle of product.

If somebody you trust doesn’t recommend it and it’s asking for your card details and you found it from some scammy looking blog, then my advice – run a mile in the opposite direction.

If you find any links to these fake blogs then let me know, we will out them.

Source BrinkZone Blog

[Supplement-Slut]

Yeah I always see these ads on porn sites (srs). Always says "Acai Berry Exposed in (insert neighboring town here)" I'm like

[Couloirman]

Yeah theres some crazy hype around acai for sure. I do personally purchase the sambazon frozen acai berries from whole foods because I think they are a delicious addition to a protein/fruit/oat smoothie either in place of or in combo with regular frozen berries. Whether or not they do anything special I dont really care. Its a berry, and its frozen so its good in a smoothie, anything else it might do is great but to me its just a berry

[An Inconvenient Bro]

Yeah I always see these ads on porn sites (srs). Always says "Acai Berry Exposed in (insert neighboring town here)" I'm like

LOL @ above!

but Will let's be honest, what type of moron does it take to fall for the "free bottle" scam when they still require you to give a cc?

come one man, at some point Darwinism wins

[Justing2]

Can the samething be said about Reversitol or does that one have data to back it up?

[bomb1977]

If you really want to try Acai berries in a drink go to your supermarket and look at those V8 Fusion drinks that use fruit juice to mask the fact you are drinking tomato juice.

My wife drinks the strawberry bananna one, but there is one in a dark blue bottle that has acai berries in it. I think they run about $2.50 - $3.50 for 1.36 Litres.

Beats $80 that re-bills every month. Yeah it's not super concentrated...but it's $2.50

[Guardian]

From what I have seen Acai gets a very high antioxidant rating compared to other things like blueberrys. I'll have to locate the listing Im at work but I believe Acai was over 10k where everything else was 1-2.5k.

Whether this high antioxidant rating justifies the price or not is up for debate, there still is alot of hype regarding whether antioxidants actually work or not.

Imo having a variety of them is more important then focusing on one "super" one so to speak.

[factotum]

From what I have seen Acai gets a very high antioxidant rating compared to other things like blueberrys. I'll have to locate the listing Im at work but I believe Acai was over 10k where everything else was 1-2.5k.

Whether this high antioxidant rating justifies the price or not is up for debate, there still is alot of hype regarding whether antioxidants actually work or not.

Imo having a variety of them is more important then focusing on one "super" one so to speak.

I wouldn't put too much stock in ORAC ratings.

[GeneGnomeX]

From what I have seen Acai gets a very high antioxidant rating compared to other things like blueberrys. I'll have to locate the listing Im at work but I believe Acai was over 10k where everything else was 1-2.5k.

Whether this high antioxidant rating justifies the price or not is up for debate, there still is alot of hype regarding whether antioxidants actually work or not.

Imo having a variety of them is more important then focusing on one "super" one so to speak.

When subjected to multiple assays, acai sucks. But these aren't good tests for a fruit's value anyway, I wrote about this in detail here:

http://recomp.com/blogma/2010/03/sup...per-marketing/

[Guardian]

I wouldn't put too much stock in ORAC ratings.

I actually think some herbs like Rhodiola may have potential to be a stronger antioxidant then acai let alone the other health benefits it brings.

[jkeezo]

Will, usually I have issues with your threads, but this was a very good one.

[Justing2]

Exactly. The original post made me think... if you are stupid enough to not know this then you deserve to lose your money.




No, that stuff is the real deal and absolutely obliterates fat and will make you feel 50 years younger. If you'd like a free sample just give me your credit card # and I'll send you out some free samples to try out!

Sure I'll PM you my CC number!!
You know what I mean't. Is it just a bs supp or does it really do what the news and everything claims it to do?

[shadar]

Sure I'll PM you my CC number!!
You know what I mean't. Is it just a bs supp or does it really do what the news and everything claims it to do?

Depends what claims in particular you mean, some of the claims are silly, some are not. Is it good to get some in your diet? Sure. Is it worth spending $30-50/month on it? Well, I guess that depends how much money you have. As with all supplements, their value is partially dependant on your budget.

[Justing2]

Depends what they claim it will do. Is it good to get some? Sure. Is it worth spending $30-50/month on it? Well, I guess that depends how much money you have.

The anti aging thing is what gets me with it.

[CometMebru]

rep'd..not really your words though but ya.

[Starkk]

Can someone make a thread awaring people on why they shouldn't buy this "handsome cream" they're selling all over the web?

I blew several paychecks on it and while it did work well, they keep charging my CC and sending me these "Girls Gone Wild" VHS tapes...

[shadar]

The anti aging thing is what gets me with it.

Read the link from GeneGnomeX

[brous47]

can we post this on every site with weight loss ads? im so sick of this acai crap. good post Will

[drxmn]

LOL @ above!

but Will let's be honest, what type of moron does it take to fall for the "free bottle" scam when they still require you to give a cc?

come one man, at some point Darwinism wins

is that 1/8" rebar??

[homerunrbi]

I thought everybody knew acai was a joke. I have a friend in Brazil that can get massive bags of the stuff for the same price as dirt.

[WillBrink]

Can the samething be said about Reversitol or does that one have data to back it up?

ResV has quite a bit of data, but as usual, claims are over the top compared to what the existing data on it supports. So, depends on why one is using it/expects to get from it.

[jeremyleinen]

Curious as to your thoughts on Goji berries...

Seems like theres always something coming out thats going to cure all the ailments someone might have. Back in the early 90's it was grape seed extract, and the whole magnet thing came along, then acai berry(though it seems to be fading, since I haven't heard much about it in a while), and now Goji berry seems to be taking this role now. Theres just always some line of BS that somebody is trying to feed whoever will fall for it.

[An Inconvenient Bro]

is that 1/8" rebar??

lulz!

[plumher]

mangosteen has been seeing a almost religious following for several years. any insight on this "magic" berry, Bill

BTW, I like your thread about some od the greats like Arny. He was really my first idol guy when i started pumping iron in the early eighties

[WillBrink]

mangosteen has been seeing a almost religious following for several years. any insight on this "magic" berry, Bill

End of the day, it's ONLY FRUIT! Sure, plenty of healthy goodness and all that, but lots of fruits have it, so a healthy selection of various fruits (dark colored berries in particular seem to be loaded with the good stuff) and you are GTG.

BTW, I like your thread about some od the greats like Arny. He was really my first idol guy when i started pumping iron in the early eighties

Thanx!

[An Inconvenient Bro]

End of the day, it's ONLY FRUIT! Sure, plenty of healthy goodness and all that, but lots of fruits have it, so a healthy selection of various fruits (dark colored berries in particular seem to be loaded with the good stuff) and you are GTG.

yes. and preferably organic

[Bluerex]

Was reading something else and saw this quote, I thought it kind of fit this thread, hahah.

“For you who believe all you read, I caution you - you are daily being brainwashed for profit by extremely effective psychology with very little regard to factual accuracy. In short, you're at the mercy of the world's greatest bull**** artists with the morals of a stray tomcat.”
--Smokey Yunick