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Don’t give out your credit card number for a “free” trial offer of any acai (pronounced a-sigh-EE) berry product. If you do, you may end up with unauthorized charges for acai products you never ordered. Also, these products are not endorsed by Oprah, despite bogus claims. And many of the “after” photos on fake weight-loss blogs are just stock photos of models.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is warning consumers about “fake blogs, fake endorsements, fishy science, and hard-to-cancel credit card transactions,” all related to acai berry products (mostly pills).
Even though acai berries are supposed to be the new, exotic super antioxidants, there’s no evidence to support any weight loss claims. Nor is there evidence to support other “magic powers” of the acai berry: cleaning colons or enhancing sexual desire. If you’re thinking of giving someone your credit card number to cover shipping for a free trial of the powerful acai berry pills, think again. They go by many names, but suspect them all.
CSPI advises that if you really must try out one of these products, use a prepaid credit card with a very low limit.
Resources for learning more about acai berry scams:
Web Self-Defense Fraud Alert by CSPI senior nutritionist David Schardt (opens PDF)
Group challenges acai berry weight-loss claims by CNN
Have you been ripped off by sites selling acai berry weight-loss products?
(Image via Pure Acai Berry)
178 days ago
[...] According to Peggy Rowland on Blisstree: [...]
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195 days ago
[...] make money. Last March, I wrote about the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s (CSPI) advice to avoid acai berry scams. They advised against giving out your credit card number for a free trial. People who have done [...]
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454 days ago
Sent for the free trial of Advance Wellness Research Pure Acai Berry. I recieved the free trial 6 days before they billed me for the product. They will not let me out of the contract. Good way to do business.
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517 days ago
My wife got ripped off by Acai Berry for $120.00 on my credit card. She ordered a sample bottle for $4.99 and they charged her for three other products she did not order. She has not recieved anything not even the sample bottle and it has been over two months. I am going to turn them in to the FBI and the Attorney General of Michigan and file charges against them.
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527 days ago
Rusty, thanks for introducing me to your blog. Great post you wrote! The people running these scams haven’t been caught yet, so the more bloggers who get the word out, the better.
Simon, I haven’t tried any of the acai products at Whole Foods or other stores, but I know they’re out there. Thanks for giving me your input. I have a feeling I’ll try some kind of drink with acai in it because I’m so curious. I just won’t participate in any online trials! : )
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527 days ago
I buy Acai concentrate at Whole Foods store and it boosts my metabolism without making me “shakey” and tends to lessen my appetite. I don’t use it for weight loss but for energy which it does provide, but I can see how it could help to curb an appetite.
Of course I would never buy any supplement online and I am sick of scammers taking advantage of people.
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528 days ago
Peggy,
I’m glad you also spoke up about this scam. For people like us who legitimately like to help people, these scams are upsetting.
Here’s my take on the subject:
http://fitnessblackbook.com/dieting_for_fat_loss/acai-berry-oprah-winfrey-dr-oz-colon-cleansing-and-fake-blogs-what/
Sorry for the long URL, I just wanted to support your great post!
Rusty
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