We were thrilled to report here
last week about the recent action taken by the credit card company Visa to shutdown the accounts of about 100 fly by night companies that were processing the charges for Acai Berry Scams.
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.
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.
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!
Diet News
This is the most rotten scam, ever! I have been charged large amounts of money ($300 plus conversion transaction fees) on two consecutive credit card statements, but, each time they have used a different company name. Beware of “Energy Shop” and “Natures Tea”! By the way, I have never received the products which I initially ordered, and all my emails have bounced back with an automated, generic reply stating they do not answer complaints or requests! You have to cancel your credit card in order to stop these mongrels. And that is a huge inconvenience, but it is absolutely necessary. Don’t get scammed!
I recently purchased the free trial sample from DietMax. I missed the very small print, and have had several charges to my credit card bill which I am now disputing with my credit card company for products that I did not receive, and fee charges for foreign transactions that I did not know about. The representative told me that this is happening to a lot of their customers. My card has been cancelled, and I will call the 800 number that appeared on the bill to notify them that payment will not be forthcoming. It is the last time I do something like this.
Yes, I have been stupid enough to fall for the free trial, I have still not received anything, I am now £68 pounds down, with more money still pending. I am unable to contact the company as their is no e-mail and the telephone numbers given are constantly busy. So how the heck do you cancel a subscription you never knew you had in the first place? Can anybody help?
The Acai Max phone seems to be “pure weight loss” 1-800-440-3268. They will give you b.s. about an e-mail within 3 hours. After 9 hours and 3 calls I never got e-mail. If you do get the secret link which I did after the 3rd call by asking what the web address was KEEP THEM ON THE PHONE – because there is info you have to fill in that you probably won’t know… I didn’t. Order # which I never got and everything has to be in lower case and no spaces.It really won’t do any good because you will still be billed even if it’s within the secret 10 day trial.
After falling for this scam I was charged $74.26(among other mystery $1.95-2.95 charges) even after I canceled within the hidden 10 trial(ACAI MAX). I went to my bank today and canceled my debt. card. I see on this site that if you find the Google ad for this “company” and click on it, the “company” has to pay Google 50 cents – $1.00 per click. I went to cnet.com and downloaded a free macro trial (program that records mouse clicks)called Workspace Macro. It will let you play with it for free(this time no hidden charge and you don’t give any credit card info)and I set it up to click on the Google ad and backpage 7 times a minute. It ran for about 5 hours, so it possibly added $2,100 to their bill this month. Tee hee hee
I agreed to a 10 day trial offer once my order was processed I realized that it was a scam and canceled the order minutes later only to find out on my next credit card statement that 6 days after my order/cancellation that I had been charged 92.26. I have called my credit card company and they have been unable to rectify this matter and suggested that I take matters into my own hands and contact Diet Max myself. I then sat on hold for 45mins only to be disconnected. I called back and sat on hold for an additional 35min only to be disconnected again. My third call I sat on hold for another 30+mins to be told that yes my account has been canceled but that my first cancellation was never received and that Diet Max was within their rights to charge me. I then pointed out that my credit card was charged 6days after my order and 4days before the trial period ended regardless of my cancellation. When I was finally connected to a supervisor I was informed that the only refund I was entitled to was 20.00$ because my cancellation was outside the required 10 day period. I am EXTREMELY upset and frustrated and refuse to accept that I can not be refunded the full amount. I found this web site amongst the many complaints that came up when I typed Diet Max and I am writing this complaint in hopes of recouping my funds and preventing this company from scamming others.
I ordered this weight loss pill from Diet Max El Tecal on 9/8/2010 and just paid the shipping and handling for a FREE 10-Day Trial Offer. I didn’t receive the merchandise until 9/13/2010. I took the product that week and actually gained 2 1/2 pounds. I called on 9/17/2010 to cancel because it was not working and I was dissatisfied with the results. In checking my credit card statement there was a charge for $87.47 and a Foreign Transaction Fee of $2.62 (Totaling $90.09) I immediately called them. I spoke with several agents that I could barely understand, I was hung up on twice. In speaking with all the agents they stated the same thing that I had cancelled on 9/18/2010 which was after the 10-Day trial period. I explained that I did not I had called them on 9/17/2010 because I called from work and I do not work weekends and that I have the conversation recorded. They said even if I did call on 9/17/2010 that that was still after 10 days. I asked if they don’t know how to count because that was the 10th day and it was supposed to be free for 10-Days. I also stated that they had charged my account on 9/16/2010 which was even before the trial period was over with. They tried to tell me that they didn’t charge it until 9/17/2010 which was the 10th day but my statement shows otherwise. I spoke with agents #377; #511; #382 and after several hours on hold, transferred and having to call back after they hung up on me. I finally spoke with a supervisor who stated they would issue a refund within 7-10 business days. I again received another charge on my credit card from ProfitVault 800-256-8416 on 10/18/2010 for $9.76 and a Foreign Transaction Fee of $0.29 (Totaling $10.05) I called them and it went to the same people as Diet Max. I spoke with agent #100 and she said I would have to call their customer service number 877-874-1511 and speak with them. I then called that number and also got the run around, they said that I authorized charges through Diet Max to purchase some coupon club or something to that affect; I’m still not even sure what it was for. She proceeded to tell me that it would be beneficial to keep the membership, etc. needless to say I got upset and told her I didn’t want their business and I didn’t authorize their charge and asked to speak to a supervisor. She said that when you signed up with Diet Max you authorized their affiliates to sign you up to their programs too and authorized the charges. Needless to say I wasn’t happy I told her I did not want whatever this was and to cancel everything and send me a refund. She said that she would submit the refund for $9.76 but I am out the Foreign Transaction Fee, she stated that I would receive credit on my account within 7-10 business days. I have heard that before. I again called Diet Max 800-320-2983 because I still hadn’t received my refund for the $87.47 from last month. I got the same run around and I finally spoke to a supervisor after being on hold forever. She said I didn’t get a refund because I wasn’t eligible for one, that my purchase was non-refundable. I asked her why because the supervisor I had talked to last month said the bill was a mistake and that I was going to get a refund. She said that the billing department decided that. This company needs to be stopped; I have contacted my credit card dispute center and am awaiting a response. I have ALL my documentation and a recording of every phone call I made to them including dates and times to prove I cancelled my order in time, etc. I suggest all those who have been wronged to contact their local law enforcement or contact the better business bureau. And for those who have not ordered yet, don’t or you will regret it! So far I am out a total of $100.14
I made the same mistake but was able to speak to an agent and “cancel” my order before it was processed, supposedly. Several weeks later, a charge showed up for a month’s supply (in the small print, the reason I stopped the order). I have tracked the source of the envelope containing the first “free sample” – Broward County in Florida. The return address says Chicago. The envelope also says “Weight Loss Systems.” This should help any tracking this down.
AS A VICTIM, AN 85 YR OLD WW2 VETERAN.A SAMPLE FROM LIQUIBOOST FOR THE POSTAGE OF $2.95 TRANSLATED INTO A VISA CHARGE OF $169.95. I AM DISGUSTED WITH OUR CREDIT CARD CO AND CONSUMER FRAUD AGENCIES,THEY ALL STATE THEIR IS LITTLE THEY CAN DO,BECAUSE OF THE SMALL PRINT CONDITIONS THAT ARE HIDDEN SOMEWHERE IN THE ADD,THIS IS DISGRACEFUL. NO ONE IS PROTECTING SENIORS FROM THESE FRAUDULANT COMPANIES. OUR LEGISLATORS ARE USELESS BUFFOONS.
hi i am hoping someone can help . i ordered the free trial of this acai cleanse stuff i have since realised it is a scam . i literally did it 10 mins ago but can find no number or email to contact them as the number on the site is bogus . i am in uk .
I signed up for Acai on leanbodyburn.com (phone # 8887879668) but when my product hadn’t arrived after 9 days, I called them. The rep said she would extend my trial for 10 days, and give me a tracking number. So, partway through giving me the tracking number, she cut me off. I returned the call and stated that I want to cancel my order. The rep replied that she could do that, and when she was repeating the order number, the line was cut off. I tried to call again, but the call does not go through so they must be blocking my call.
I called VISA to have them reverse the $3.87 charge, which they are willing to do, and I will be vigilant about checking my VISA for further charges, which I will have reversed.
Best of Luck.
Further info: I live in Canada, but since the charge was in USD, I used my USD Visa. This helped me know the exact charge amount to reverse without currency exchange issues.
W
i have same problem like Cindy and i dont ‘no what to do?
i bought both clense and berry i thought 3.95 never recved the product but they took 100.00 off my credit card ////so ilost a 100.00 dollarls .they also say try 2 weeks still no product but they took my mpney .whatrip off is ther away a person can gwe the money back laurie
I too was taken for a ride. I ordered this on 1/20/10 from TryAcaiBerryPure.com, only having to pay $3.95 for shipping. I received it in 8 days. My Visa called on day 9 to report a chg of $149.95. I called the company to find out and they said there was an agreement that you had to cxancel in 10 days in order not to be charged any additional amounts. I said OK, I still have 1 day left. Well their computers happened to be down all day and they were unable to access my account. I called the next day, (10th day) and canceled by they said I was past the time alloted and would have to pay the $149.95. I have disputed the chg on my VISA along with filing a complaint with the BBB. Same story for the Advance + Cleanse…
After repeated offers i decided to accept a hard to resist offer for .99cents The AcaiBerryPure along with the 1.99 ColoDetoxXR products. Of course being as overweight as i am i gave in to the offer. Now certain things has transpired in my personal life with my mother needing immediate brain surgery, since i made the order onlne, so i totally forgotten the order,until i got a text alert on my cellphone 1/26/10 for $64.00 and on 1/28/10 for $54.00. Then a light went up in my head! Called my debit card company and found out the whole mess. I have tried to resolve this with both companies explaining to them i never recieved their product. However after several attempts Ms. Linda at the colodetox/Pure Nutrients inc. finally agreed to refund the$64.00 and she was very sweet and concerned when she called me right back to give me the satisfying news. BUT AcaiBerry still refuses to refund my money, and i refuse to give up! It is UNCONSTITUTIONAL to make me pay for a product i NEVER recieved! Not to mention they never allowed me to talk to a supervisor, and they still couldnt, after several attempts, provide me with a tracking#. Now whats really going on? I WANT MY REFUND!!! You are not going to just take my money like that!!!I am NOT through!!!!!!!
I have been charged for products I did not order,never recived anything from theses people and yet I am out over $200.00 Dollars for this… How can I get my money back ? and How can thay be stopped ? The name that came up on my bank statement was …Berrytropic 1-877-331-2511 DE, Thay have been disconnected and Fitlife.1- 888-334-3857 Scottsdale, AZ Theese people must be stopped. If you can help please let me know. Brandi Sundara (918) 951-3891 Thank you so much !!!!
YES GO TO THE OTHER FRAUD SENATOR J. MCCAIN AND COMPAIN,NOT ONE OF OUR LEGISLATORS HAVE DONE A DAMN THING TO PROTECT OUR CONSUMERS. A SIMPLE LAW REGULATING SIZE AND TEXT OF SMALL PRINT IS ALL THAT IS NEEDED.