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**ACAI BERRY SCAM: now with "London" links **
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codger
Posts: 2,079 Forumite
Scammers behind the Acai Berry "free trial / discounted trial" con are now developing "personal blogs" purporting to be authored by UK users.
This is a refinement of previous blogs which were all ostensibly US-authored.
Some initial teething problems, if not feeding problems, are occuring on the UK scam front --
go here: http://www.joannasdiet.com/index.php?360Health:(General)
and here: http://www.melaniesdiet.com/index.php?360-HealthGeneral
and you'll see the results. :rotfl:
The basic template remains the same though whether the new UK or the older USA.
At the last count, 57 "mydiet" or "my weightloss" entrapment blogs have been set up by the Acai Berry free trial / discounted trial scammers.
The total is expected to rise this month as more seemingly UK-based "blogs" are created (hopefully, not involving the inadvertent conception of identical twins living in the London H9 postal district) though getting advertising links may prove more difficult here than in the US, where the appalling Microsoft-owned MSNBC continues to rake in income from the scammers despite complaints about the fraudulent "blogs".
The "independent" review of a selection of entirely different product providers (though of course, they're not: they're all the same outfit) also continues on at http://www.freeacaiberrytrials.com/reviews7.php
As to the calibre of the people behind this criminal scam, here's a soothingly persuasive statement by one of the companies (i.e.: all the companies, because they're the same one) customer service representatives:
Poor AMERICANS!!! you keep on complaining!!!because you are not aware of the terms and conditions!!! who the hell will offer $5.95 for an acai with out any terms and condition!! it is clearly stated at the lower part of the website that we are givng you 15 days trial period to try our product or to cancel with in the days trial period so that your only going to pay for the shipping fees..but if you did not called with in the 15 days trial period you will going to pay for the original price of the advertised product!!and where going to deliver you automatically a 30 days supply of the product!!and the reason you cannot contact us is that where are receiving a thousand calls in 1 day!!!to cancel their account!!!!this is our customer service schedule mon-fri am9:00-6:00pm EASTERN TIME!!!follow some instructions Poor AMERICANS!!!!!! you just want to buy some cheap products!! POOR PEOPLE!!!!
As corporate PR goes, that's about as impressive as it gets -- not.
But then the first language of the scammers behind this is rather more likely to be to the east of the UK rather than way out West. (And what the PR department will do when it comes to addressing POOR BRITS!!! Gawd only knows. Perhaps there'll be a better translation from the, er, Cyrillic.)
Obviously, don't buy anything on any link in any Acai Berry diet or weightloss blog by Joanna, Mary, Louise, Paula, Angela etc et al: none of 'em are related to the legitimate Sambazon product or its producers; every single one is a fraud.
Codger
This is a refinement of previous blogs which were all ostensibly US-authored.
Some initial teething problems, if not feeding problems, are occuring on the UK scam front --
go here: http://www.joannasdiet.com/index.php?360Health:(General)
and here: http://www.melaniesdiet.com/index.php?360-HealthGeneral
and you'll see the results. :rotfl:
The basic template remains the same though whether the new UK or the older USA.
At the last count, 57 "mydiet" or "my weightloss" entrapment blogs have been set up by the Acai Berry free trial / discounted trial scammers.
The total is expected to rise this month as more seemingly UK-based "blogs" are created (hopefully, not involving the inadvertent conception of identical twins living in the London H9 postal district) though getting advertising links may prove more difficult here than in the US, where the appalling Microsoft-owned MSNBC continues to rake in income from the scammers despite complaints about the fraudulent "blogs".
The "independent" review of a selection of entirely different product providers (though of course, they're not: they're all the same outfit) also continues on at http://www.freeacaiberrytrials.com/reviews7.php
As to the calibre of the people behind this criminal scam, here's a soothingly persuasive statement by one of the companies (i.e.: all the companies, because they're the same one) customer service representatives:
Poor AMERICANS!!! you keep on complaining!!!because you are not aware of the terms and conditions!!! who the hell will offer $5.95 for an acai with out any terms and condition!! it is clearly stated at the lower part of the website that we are givng you 15 days trial period to try our product or to cancel with in the days trial period so that your only going to pay for the shipping fees..but if you did not called with in the 15 days trial period you will going to pay for the original price of the advertised product!!and where going to deliver you automatically a 30 days supply of the product!!and the reason you cannot contact us is that where are receiving a thousand calls in 1 day!!!to cancel their account!!!!this is our customer service schedule mon-fri am9:00-6:00pm EASTERN TIME!!!follow some instructions Poor AMERICANS!!!!!! you just want to buy some cheap products!! POOR PEOPLE!!!!
As corporate PR goes, that's about as impressive as it gets -- not.
But then the first language of the scammers behind this is rather more likely to be to the east of the UK rather than way out West. (And what the PR department will do when it comes to addressing POOR BRITS!!! Gawd only knows. Perhaps there'll be a better translation from the, er, Cyrillic.)
Obviously, don't buy anything on any link in any Acai Berry diet or weightloss blog by Joanna, Mary, Louise, Paula, Angela etc et al: none of 'em are related to the legitimate Sambazon product or its producers; every single one is a fraud.
Codger
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Comments
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Thanks for the advice, I need to lose some weight so I'll have a go at using your product. Looks good from the links you've provided!0
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There is quite a good blog post here showing how these fake diet blogs are all linked together (different fake photos fake names etc) :
http://wafflesatnoon.com/2009/01/20/the-fake-diet-girls/
Apparently there are affiliates in the US who have made up to $100,000 per day promoting these scammy acai trail offers via cpa advertising networks, who pay them up to $40 per lead for the 'trial'. So with that kind of money on offer it's no wonder these charmers are turning to the UK to peddle their snake oil.
"The happiest of people don't necessarily have the
best of everything; they just make the best
of everything that comes along their way."
-- Author Unknown --0 -
I've just clicked on the links on the OP and noticed that these 'girls' are in Brussels.
I wonder if I'll get a reply to my comments- I'd sure love to know where all these 'drive-thrus' are, I've lived in Brussels for several years and can only think of one
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I've just clicked on the links on the OP and noticed that these 'girls' are in Brussels.
That's strange - when I clicked on the links it said "Hey, this is Joanna Parker, and I'm from Edinburgh, U8" the second site said "Hey, this is Melanie Parker, and I'm from Edinburgh, U8 " but she looks exactly the same! Must be her identical twin sister who lost exactly the same amount of weight (51lbs apparently!) :rolleyes:
Note the source code of the page which has a javascript to identify your ip address:
Hey, this is Melanie Parker, and I'm from
<script language="JavaScript" src="http://j.maxmind.com/app/geoip.js"></script>
<script language="JavaScript">document.write(geoip_city());</script>,
<script language="JavaScript">document.write(geoip_region());</script>
Note all the almost impossible to read grey text hidden away at the bottom of the page in a tiny font:
*The free trials of the products worked for me and for many other people, but results may vary by person. Also, keep in mind that I got free trials of the products for free, but there is a shipping fee and some advertisers have terms regarding continued billing after trial expires if you do not cancel. Some advertisers require trial to be canceled within 14 days of the trial period while some other advertisers give you 30 days to cancel the free trial. Please see terms per advertiser regarding the specific amount of days required to cancel your free trial before continued billing begins.
All information contained within this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem - nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. No action should be taken solely on the contents of this website. Always consult your physician or qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health or on any opinions expressed within this website. Any names or places mentioned are a work of fiction and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental. The information provided within this website is believed to be accurate based on the best judgment of the authors but the reader is responsible for consulting with their own health professional on any matters raised within. Health information changes rapidly. Therefore, some information within this website may be out of date or even possibly inaccurate due to new studies and research that the authors of this website are unaware of. We do not assume any liability for the information contained within this website, be it direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other damages. Please see your physician before changing your diet, starting an exercise program, or taking any supplements of any kind. Any and all product names referenced within this website are copyright and trademarks of their respective owners. Always read all information provided by the manufacturers product labels before using their products. This website is not responsible for claims made by product manufacturers. The statements made within this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration."The happiest of people don't necessarily have the
best of everything; they just make the best
of everything that comes along their way."
-- Author Unknown --0 -
I went on the links and it said they where both from Birmingham! (where i am at the mo)
So i think it finds out your city by your IP address and they simply "make it out" to be there from where you are :rotfl:
I hope dancingdoll is joking
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Ooops- oh well.0
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Thank you for sharing a nice post. some websites explains how to avoid internet scams and how some Programs Will Exploit the Credit Card Information and Charge for Products and Services which are not requested. So better be away from this scams.0
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Yeah got the same picture, both from London under both different names0
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