Beware of Acai Supplement Scams
Is there anyone who hasn't heard of acai berries by now? And at least vaguely you probably have heard that there are wonder-claims for this small berry from South America, including weight loss, increased energy, and greater longevity. Where there are "amazing foods", inevitably will come the supplements, claiming to cram all the purported benefits of the food into a tiny pill. Such is the case with the acai berry (pronounced ah-saw'-ee).
And then, all too often, come the scams.
Attorneys General in at least half a dozen states are now investigating claims of fraud by several different companies selling acai supplements. At least one lawsuit has already been brought, by the Attorney General of Arizona.
A TV station local to me did an investigation of their own, ordering three supplements from three different companies which were advertised as having "free trials" or "risk-free trials". These "free offers" ended up costing over $200 dollars as the investigator's credit card was soon charged for extra merchandise, some of which never arrived. Many phone calls, letters on the station's stationery, and returning product only got the charges from one of the companies reversed. See the video of the news item from KSBW
Ironically, according to the nutritionist in the news segment, the much-touted antioxidant levels in the berries are actually "middle of the road", and that there are much more ordinary and inexpensive foods which have higher levels of antioxidnants. Among foods high in antioxidant phytochemicals are tea (green, black, and white), green leafy vegetables, berries, broccoli, and chocolate.
Some of the names of companies under investigation are: FWM Laboratories, Crush LLC, Central Coast Nutraceuticals, and Advanced Wellness Research.
To be on the safe side, simply avoid these supplements, especially since there is no evidence that they will live up to any of their claims. As Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General of Connecticut, stated: "In reality, consumers lose more money than weight after 'free' trials transition into inescapable charges."
Photo of Acai Berry Harvest © Ricardo AzouryRelated Resources from About.com Health:
- The Science Behind Acai (Alternative Medicine)
- Can the Acai Berry Help With Anti Aging? (Longevity)
Thank you Laura for this valuable information. These companies are a huge scam. I’ll stick to my favorites, artichokes, for a cheap, available source of antioxidants.
Yes! Artichokes very high in antioxidants, to a surprising degree. I had one last night! YUM!
Find it funny how the blog is talking about acai scam and yet google ads promoting acai. Funny
So ironic and true! The Sponsored Links/Google Ads are not endorsed by me or About.com Health.
You can buy ACAI tabs at Walmart
Thank you Laura,
Your warning came too late for me. They got my cc# and will not let go of this info. I am disputing this now with the cc. company. I will make a copy of your letter and send it to them as proof. They won’t believe me. I have not ordered anything nor do I do business with them. I may have to contact the Attorney General of Oregon about this scam.
It should be stopped. Life is too hard on many Americans right now. We don’t need this added.
Geraldina H. Oregon.
Thanks Laura.
Is there anything that you, as a Guide, or we as posters at About.com can do to get the ads off of their sites?
Kari
My mother was scammed by this company. They have taken two payments of $59.95US from her credit card and keep saying we will not be charged any further charges. She never received anything other than a bottle whose seal was ripped off. The bottle had 6 pills in it.
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A FREE TRIAL … once they get your credit card info charges show up for things you never even ordered. NEVER ORDER ANYTHING THAT SAYS IT’S FREE….OR RISK-FREE TRIAL.
I too signed up. Shortly after I signed up both my husband and myself I saw an article on a major news site. Literally right after I gave our cc numbers.
Immediately I called my credit card companies and told them that yes I signed up for a free trial so sure the shipping was valid for like $5 but any other charges were unauthorized.
Well the Customer Service Rep had processed so many of these claims she did not even argue or make me “prove” anything. She said well if you will need access to any of your funds on your card, go to the bank within the next couple of hours, then we will put a lost/stolen on your card and send you out a new card and pin.
Thank God for that Rep because she was so helpful and knowledgeable. So if any of you are disputing and are trying to keep the same card, cut your losses and change your card number.
I would still dispute if you’ve lost money but changing your card # is worth it because I’ve even heard stories of these companies not charging for months and then all of a sudden start charging again.
Best wishes to all of you touched by this scam and thanks for a great article!
If any diet, gimmick or scam worked Amercians would not be the worse epidemic that this country has ever seen. More people are overweight and unfit than ever. The only way to get healthy is to have good nutrition, exercise and have a positive attitude. Diet’s do not work.
debra mazda
So this product is harful? Or does it really make you loose weight?
I just wanted to point out that all of those “obey this one flat stomach rule, as seen on CBS, ABC,” etc. ads lead to various versions of the acai berry and colon cleanse scams, with “journals” that are made to look as if they are written by real people. Many of them also reference “Dr. Oz” although I’m sure he has nothing to do with these companies. They are literally ALL OVER the internet. Ironically, as I read this article, there is one on this site in the ad space right next to it.
I have fallen into a similar scam with teeth whitening. Acai Advanced and many other companies got ahold of my credit card and charged little fees here and there. They all added up. I cancelled my credit card after these companies wouldnt pick up the phone. beware… these free trials are not “free” at all!
I have got my ACAI product down from 75 dollars down to about 30 bucks.
I am 24 pounds thinner in 3 months.
These are not scams, All you need to do is read the terms and conditions. It explains how to cancel, leave an email then you have proof that you canceled so that will hold up against them.
Read the terms and conditions and ask for a lower price, they will negotiate.
The real story here is not the scam. The real story is whom is endorsing the product. Oprah, Today Show, and Good Morning America all endorsed various versions of the ACAI berry. I personally was ripped off as well, but I never would have purchased it if these programs hadn’t endorsed it.
Is “Perfect Acai” a decent brand of acai berry supplement?
Hi Laura
i did try the free trial and they charged me AU$15 but until now got nothing in my mail box . . .so i tried to surf net to check about it and i came to your blog. . . .
Thank you much. . . .