Where to Buy Acai

You can Purchase Acai safely at the BBB certified official Acaiberry Store, where you’ll find the best prices on all the top brands, but NO FREE TRIALS! Click the ONLINE STORE in the left sidebar.

FAKE NEWS SITES
The sites below are examples
of this nasty scam technique

• www.news6health.com
• www.news5reports.com/
• www.usahealthnews.org
• www.onlinehealthnews7
• www.weeklyhealthusa.org
• www.healthnews5.net
• www.news6reports.co.uk/
• www.news7special.tv/
• www.news5reports.com/
• www.consumershealthreports.com
• www.channel5healthnews.com/
• www.weeklyhealthnewscanada.com/
• www.channel6reports.com/
• www.newyorkchronicle.org/
• www.tv9today.com
• www.dailynews-6.com/
• www.channel9healthbeat.com/
• www.dailyhealthalerts.com/

All of the above sites look very similar to the image at right. The scammers simply change the name of the supposed “reporter” because our readers keep listing these scams in our database below. Then, when people google the reporters name (for ex. “Julia Miller”, Samantha Whyte, Gina Miller, Julia Sandler, Karen Simpson, and others ) this page shows up at the top of Google and readers find out it is a scam and avoid being ripped off. So please – if you have a new one add to the database below and help others.

“FREE TRIAL OFFERS” ARE NOT FREE!

In fact they will cost you more than 4 TIMES AS MUCH as it should cost per bottle. In these scams, the charge per bottle is usually around $80. Twice as much as quality freeze-dried acai berry should cost. But they send you crappy drum dried Acai Berry, which cost about 1/2 as much to produce. So you end up paying about 4 times more per bottle than you should.
You will be signed up for a subscription
Yes, they say they just charge you for shipping. If that were so, it wouldn’t be bad. But in reality, they just want your credit card number and will bill you every month for a subscription you didn’t sign up for. They bury the fine print in their terms and conditions.
You will spend hours trying to cancel this subscription
There will either be noone to contact to return the crappy product, or they will say you have to call their customer service number to get return authorization. When you do, you are put on hold and shuffled between different people until you give up. Don’t believe me? Before you purchase, call or email them and say you did not sign up for a subscription and please stop sending the product. You will get the runaround.
How to tell if the company is legitimate?
If they are offering a free trial, they are not legitimate – Those are all scams – every single one. But if you don’t want to take our word for it, simply contact them before you buy! Act like you are a customer and want to cancel. It won’t take you long to figure out they won’t let you cancel.

Acai Berry Scam sites and brands

Its about time! Yes, the FTC is a government bureaucracy, so moves very slowly. They’ve been inundated with complaints from tens of thousands of irate consumers now, with estimates of over a MILLION victims of these scams. To be fair, they did make a case A YEAR ago against a Texas man who was a force behind these schemes in the early days. He quit the business and was fined a few thousand dollars – about what you pay for a big traffic ticket!

Here’s the strange part of the big fuss they are making about this single case – The US attorney general made a big fuss in June 2009 about a record fine against an acai berry distributor. Guess who it was? CCN! With hundreds of websites and dozens of companies pushing these scams all over the internet, the FTC makes a big deal about a court decision to stop the SAME COMPANY that the US attorney general supposedly shut down OVER A YEAR AGO! Please forgive my cynical nature, but it sounds like the different government agencies are fighting for credit over the same case. Either that, or the $1.37 million fine last year didn’t convince CCN to stop. In which case, why didn’t the US Attorney general do more LAST YEAR?

Ok, enough with being cynical. It sounds like CCN is finally being shut down. Lets hope the FTC keeps the pressure up and pursues more cases to shut down the rest of the scumbags.

If you have been a victim by one of these acai berry scams and would like to file a complaint and perhaps get a judgement against the people behind it all, contact:

David O’Toole
FTC Midwest Region, Chicago
312-960-5634

Below is the announcement of the court decision published on the FTC website.

Court Orders Internet Marketers of Acai Berry Weight-Loss Pills and “Colon Cleansers” to Stop Deceptive Advertising and Unfair Billing Practices

Ads Feature Phony Endorsements Attributed to Oprah Winfrey, Rachael Ray
At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a U.S. district court has ordered the marketers of acai berry supplements, “colon cleansers,” and other products to temporarily halt an Internet sales scheme that allegedly scammed consumers out of $30 million or more in 2009 alone through deceptive advertising and unfair billing practices. The FTC will seek a permanent prohibition. Since 2007, victimized consumers have flooded law enforcement agencies and the Better Business Bureau with more than 2,800 complaints about the company.

Acai berry supplements, derived from acai palm trees that are native to Central and South America, have become popular in recent years. Last year, the Better Business Bureau named fake “free” trial offers – including those for acai supplements offered by the defendants in this case – as one of the “Top 10 Scams and Rip Offs of 2009.”

“Too many ‘free’ offers come with strings attached,” said David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “In this case, the defendants promised buyers a ‘risk free’ trial and then illegally billed their credit cards again and again – and again. We estimate that about a million people have fallen victim to this scam. As if that weren’t enough, there were fake endorsements from celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Rachael Ray for a product that didn’t work in the first place.”

The court order halts the allegedly illegal conduct of Central Coast Nutraceuticals, Inc., imposes an asset freeze, and appoints a temporary receiver over CCN and several related companies, while the FTC moves forward with its case to stop the company’s bogus health claims and other deceptive and unfair conduct.

The FTC charged CCN, two individuals, and four related companies with multiple violations, including deceptively advertising AcaiPure, an acai berry supplement, as a weight-loss product, and Colopure, a colon cleansing supplement, as an aid for preventing cancer.

The FTC complaint alleges that to sell AcaiPure, the marketers made dramatic claims on their website, including:

“WARNING! AcaiPure Is Fast Weight Loss That Works. It Was Not Created For Those People Who Only Want To Lose A Few Measly Pounds. AcaiPure was created to help you achieve the incredible body you have always wanted …USE WITH CAUTION! Major weight loss in short periods of time may occur.”

In pitching Colopure, the defendants cited frightening statistics about colon
cancer, while promising that their product would get rid of consumers’ “excess weight and toxic buildup.”

The marketers also deceived consumers about their purported “free” or “risk free” trial offers, and about the charges and refund terms consumers could expect, according to the FTC’s complaint. The FTC also alleges that the marketers made numerous additional unauthorized charges to consumers’ credit and debit card accounts.

The alleged deceptive practices include:

• Falsely claiming that using AcaiPure could lead to rapid and substantial weight loss. Consumers were told that “[m]ost consumers taking AcaiPure report weight loss anywhere from 10-25 pounds in the first month.”
• Making unproven claims that AcaiPure’s weight-loss claims are backed by “double-blind, placebo-controlled weight loss studies.”
• Deceptively claiming that Colopure could help prevent colon cancer because it would “cleanse your entire system,” “detoxify your organs,” and break down and remove “toxic waste matter which may have been stuck in the folds and wrinkles of your digestive system for years and years.”
• Falsely claiming that celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Rachael Ray have endorsed products marketed by Central Coast Nutraceuticals, Inc. In marketing AcaiPure, the defendants declared on their homepage, “Acai Berry rated #1 SUPERFOOD by Rachael Ray.” A photo of Oprah appeared on the homepage, next to a quote that read in part, “Studies have shown that this little berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world!” In fact, in declarations to the FTC, both celebrities denied endorsing AcaiPure.
• Deceptively claiming that the marketers will provide full refunds to all consumers who request them, and that consumers who paid a nominal fee for a “free” trial supply of supplements would incur no risks or obligations. In fact, many consumers found it all but impossible to avoid paying full price for the products, typically $39.95 to $59.95.
• Failing to adequately disclose that consumers would be automatically enrolled in a membership program and charged for additional monthly supplies of a product.
• Failing to adequately disclose that consumers would be automatically charged for items other than the trial product unless they opted out.
• Failing to adequately disclose the terms and conditions of trial programs, membership programs, and additional charges.
• Making numerous unauthorized charges to consumers’ credit and debit card accounts.
• Debiting consumers’ bank accounts on an automatic, recurring basis, without obtaining proper preauthorization. The unauthorized debits violated the FTC Act as well as the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and Regulation E, according to the complaint.

“Visa is committed to ensuring that consumers trust digital currency when they shop online by protecting them from deceptive merchant marketing practices,” said Martin Elliott, Senior Business Leader, Payment System Risk, Visa Inc. “Deceptive merchant practices hurt the economy by eroding trust in e-commerce and undermining the vast majority of ethical merchants who deal and compete fairly. We have tightened enforcement of our rules against banks whose merchants generate excessive levels of cardholder disputes because of deceptive marketing. We also make it a priority to partner with law enforcement and agencies like the Federal Trade Commission and support their investigations such as this case.”

The FTC would like to thank the Better Business Bureau of Central, Northern & Western Arizona and Visa, Inc. for their invaluable assistance in this investigation.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint and seek a temporary restraining order was 5-0. The FTC filed its complaint and requested a temporary restraining order against the defendants from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. On August 6, 2010, the court granted the request for the temporary restraining order.

The complaint also names as defendants Graham D. Gibson and Michael A. McKenzy, and four companies affiliated with Central Coast Nutraceuticals, Inc. – iLife Health and Wellness LLC; Simply Naturals LLC; Health and Beauty Solutions LLC; and Fit for Life LLC.

NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has reason to believe that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The complaint is not a finding or ruling that the defendants have actually violated the law.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,800 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Betsy Lordan
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-3707

STAFF CONTACT:

David O’Toole
FTC Midwest Region, Chicago
312-960-5634

(FTC File No. 1023028)
(CC Nutraceuticals NR.wpd)

The headline does sounds promising, but if you read the news release, you see they are announcing a lawsuit against a SINGLE COMPANY!  There are dozens of companies participating in these scams. We do hope the message being sent will scare some others out of the business, but if prior such actions are any indication, we doubt it.  Check back next week and we’ll have an update on the repercussions.

FTC to Announce Action Against Internet Marketers of Acai Berry Weight-Loss Pills and “Colon Cleansers”
Millions of consumers who are anxious to lose weight or prevent cancer have seen the ads: “…USE WITH CAUTION! Major weight loss in short periods of time may occur,” or “detoxify your organs,” and break down and remove “toxic waste matter which may have been stuck in the folds and wrinkles of your digestive system for years and years.” Come and learn from the victims themselves what the “free” trials of these products have cost, and how the Federal Trade Commission and the business community are taking action.

Omega 3 helps our bodies in so many ways. From a potent anti-inflammatory to reducing blood pressure, to reduction in the chances of contracting a whole array of dangerous diseases. It is no wonder that medical experts are pushing for Americans to get much more of each of these back into our diet. What a lot of people don’t know is that of the two, Omega 3 is far, far better for you. Unfortunately it’s also much less commonly seen in our foods. In fact the typical American diet has between 40 and 50x as much Omega 6 to Omega 3. Experts estimate that the perfect ration is actually 3x Omega 3 to Omega 6. What all this boils down to is that we need, somehow, to get a hell of a lot more Omega 3 into our bodies.

Mila Seed

Getting more Omega 3 into the blood stream is difficult because there are not that many sources that are rich enough to provide the required amounts. This is where Mila seed — the food with highest concentration of Omega 3 fatty acids known to man — comes in. Mila seed contains Alpha Linolenic fatty acid (ALA), which is the only essential omega 3 fatty acid; this cannot be manufactured by the body so needs to be introduced in food.

Bob Arnot

Bob Arnot is a big player in medical circles, and you may well have heard of him and his work. He has worked in various different countries, and was the chief medical editor and special foreign correspondent for NBC news. Bob wanted to move onto something that he felt very strongly about, and has made the move to Lifemax as the Chief Wellness Educator.

Arnot’s mission is push the Mila seed where it belongs: to the forefront of modern medical thinking.

Staying Healthy

Getting and staying healthy seems to be a topic that is on everyone’s mind. The major thing is making sure that you get key and vital vitamins, minerals, and other supplements. A great way to get all three of these things is to drink Acai berry juice. You can get all of your necessary supplements and health benefits through this juice, and it’s great tasting and an easy addition to any breakfast, meal or diet. Making sure that you are healthy isn’t mom’s job anymore, so make sure that you do ir right and make mom proud! Get some acai or acai juice for your diet today!

Acai berries and its uses:

Where can you buy acai berries?
Side Effects of Acai

Research finds scammers still operating

We are still hopeful that these and other actions will put an end to these vultures. Yes, there has been a decrease in the number of companies and the flood of marketing of these scams, but for now it appears that those being shut down are quickly being replaced by other companies. Or often, the same companies under different names. We did some research and found that the affiliate networks that promote the Free Trial Offers of Acai to websites and email marketers are already replacing the brands of Acai.

See for yourself

So, the brand names are changing, but the scummy marketing techniques are the same. You can verify this yourself by simply typing acai berry free trial into google.com or bing.com. The paid ads pushing the scams are still there at the right side, and sometimes at the very top.

What can you do to stop them?

Before making a purchase or signing up for a “free trial”, consumers should check the company out with on the BBB Web site to see if it has racked up complaints. Consumers who’ve been caught up in the scams should
file complaints with the FTC online or by phone at 1-877-FTC-HELP.
You might also want to know that every time you click on one of the scammers paid ads at the far right of the google search results, it costs the scammers between 50c and $1. Happy clicking!

What is the acai berry?
The acai berry is an inch-long reddish, purple fruit. It comes from the acai palm tree (Euterpe oleracea), which is native to Central and South America. It is a relative of the blueberry, cranberry, and other dark purple fruits.

Research on the acai berry has focused on its possible antioxidant activity. Theoretically, that activity may help prevent diseases caused by oxidative stress such as heart disease and cancer.

Is the acai berry healthy?
Acai contains several substances called anthocyanins and flavonoids.

The word anthocyanin comes from two Greek words meaning “plant” and “blue.” Anthocyanins are responsible for the red, purple, and blue hues in many fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Foods that are richest in anthocyanins — such as blueberries, red grapes, red wine, and acai — are very strongly colored, ranging from deep purple to black.

Anthocyanins and flavonoids are powerful antioxidants that help defend the body against life’s stressors. They also play a role in the body’s cell protection system. Free radicals are harmful byproducts produced by the body. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants may interfere with aging and the disease process by neutralizing free radicals.

By lessening the destructive power of free radicals, antioxidants may help reduce the risk of some diseases, such as heart disease and cancer.

Are there known health benefits of acai berries?
Some studies show that acai fruit pulp has a very high antioxidant capacity with even more antioxidant content than cranberry, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, or blueberry. Studies are ongoing, though, and the jury is still out.

People eat acai berries to address various health conditions. But so far, acai berries have no known health benefit that’s any different than that of other similar fruits.

Can acai berries boost weight loss?
Scientists are learning more about the functional power of superfoods, such as the acai berry. Although acai is touted in some weight loss products, few studies have tested the benefit of acai in promoting weight loss.

For now, plenty of research supports eating a diet rich in antioxidants. There’s no doubt that berries and other fruits are a key part of any healthy diet promoting weight loss. The jury’s still out on whether there is something special about acai’s ability to shed excess pounds.

Why are acai berries used in beauty products?
Some cosmetics and beauty products contain acai oil in the ingredient list. That’s because acai oil is a powerhouse of antioxidants.

Studies show that acai oil may be a safe alternative to other tropical oils used in beauty products such as facial and body creams, anti-aging skin therapies, shampoos and conditioners, and other products. When acai oil is processed and stored long-term, the antioxidant levels remain high.

Do acai berries and acai juice have any side effects?
If you have pollen allergies or have a known hypersensitivity to acai or similar berries, you may want to avoid this fruit. When eaten in moderate amounts, though, acai is likely safe

Acai Synonymous With Scams

It is unfortunate that acai has become synonymous with scamming websites ripping off customers who fall prey to their claims that the humble acai berry is capable of curing all kinds of ailments, even cancer! But like all things that sound too good to be true, these fake websites are only interested in taking your cash. Fake websites and scammers have long tainted the reputation of the acai berry. When Dr. Mehmet Oz appeared on the now infamous episode of Oprah, his use of the word “superfood” to describe acai launched a thousand acai spam sites pretending to have Dr. Mehmet’s and Oprah’s backing, many of which Oz and Oprah have subsequently sued.

But while ABC’s Nightline has certainly done a great job of making sure consumers understand that many of these outrageous claims by disreputable scammers are obviously untrue, it has failed to put the point across that acai berry supplements marketed and sold by reputable companies are actually a very useful diet supplement.

Acai: Staple Food

The amazing acai berry might not be able to cure cancer and diabetes, but it certainly has many important properties that have made it a staple part of the diet of people living in South America for centuries. Nobody disputes the fact that these unassuming-looking berries contain powerful antioxidants that help to cleanse the system, as well as being rich in amino acids, essential vitamins and minerals, omega fats and plant sterols. All these valuable properties mean that the humble acai berry is packed full of nutrition and goodness, and is an excellent addition to a healthy and balanced diet, whether taken in capsule form, or in other multiple forms.

Indeed, in its quest for the truth, ABC’s Nightline even flew to the Amazon to meet the very people whose livelihood depends on the acai berry. The production team interviewed people who harvest the berry, as well as those who consume the end product. Every one of those people interviewed agreed that the bland little acai berry is packed full of goodness. From poor farmers to local athletes, it is fact that the acai berry has changed peoples’ lives for the better. It has provided a much needed boost to the economy in these poor South American countries, as well as a boost to the diet of the same people whose life revolves around the production of the fruit.

Acai Synonymous With Scams

It is unfortunate that acai has become synonymous with scamming websites ripping off customers who fall prey to their claims that the humble acai berry is capable of curing all kinds of ailments, even cancer! But like all things that sound too good to be true, these fake websites are only interested in taking your cash. Fake websites and scammers have long tainted the reputation of the acai berry. When Dr. Mehmet Oz appeared on the now infamous episode of Oprah, his use of the word “superfood” to describe acai launched a thousand acai spam sites pretending to have Dr. Mehmet’s and Oprah’s backing, many of which Oz and Oprah have subsequently sued.

But while ABC’s Nightline has certainly done a great job of making sure consumers understand that many of these outrageous claims by disreputable scammers are obviously untrue, it has failed to put the point across that acai berry supplements marketed and sold by reputable companies are actually a very useful diet supplement.

Acai: Staple Food

The amazing acai berry might not be able to cure cancer and diabetes, but it certainly has many important properties that have made it a staple part of the diet of people living in South America for centuries. Nobody disputes the fact that these unassuming-looking berries contain powerful antioxidants that help to cleanse the system, as well as being rich in amino acids, essential vitamins and minerals, omega fats and plant sterols. All these valuable properties mean that the humble acai berry is packed full of nutrition and goodness, and is an excellent addition to a healthy and balanced diet, whether taken in capsule form, or in other multiple forms.

Indeed, in its quest for the truth, ABC’s Nightline even flew to the Amazon to meet the very people whose livelihood depends on the acai berry. The production team interviewed people who harvest the berry, as well as those who consume the end product. Every one of those people interviewed agreed that the bland little acai berry is packed full of goodness. From poor farmers to local athletes, it is fact that the acai berry has changed peoples’ lives for the better. It has provided a much needed boost to the economy in these poor South American countries, as well as a boost to the diet of the same people whose life revolves around the production of the fruit.

In reality what happens is that the customer is unknowingly signed up for a subscription in which they will receive a number of packs of Acai Power Blast (or whatever product is being pushed) at some extortionate price. Up to $100 in some cases. The subscription is pretty much impossible to cancel, and many people have found the only way out is to cancel their credit card.

In order to lure customers into a false sense of security these scammers set up sites that look just like real news sites. They also have a pretty young thing offering a testimonial about how X product changed her life. In the case of Acai Power Blast the young lady is called Gina Miller, and the site is www.usahealthreport.org.

Neither www.usahealthreport.org nor Gina Miller exist for any reason except to scam you, the casual acai buyer. Check out the graphic below for many more examples of this nasty scam.

You can read much more about the free trial scam on our acai berry scams page.

FAKE NEWS SITES
The sites below are examples
of this nasty scam technique

• www.news6health.com
• www.news5reports.com/
• www.usahealthnews.org
• www.onlinehealthnews7
• www.weeklyhealthusa.org
• www.healthnews5.net
• www.news6reports.co.uk/
• Acai Berry Cleanse/
• www.news7special.com/
• www.consumershealthreports.com