| Online tricksters looking to cash in on the | | | | One of the companies listed by the BBB is FX |
| popularity of acai berry products are setting up | | | | Supplements, which offers a free trial of acai |
| websites with the sole intention of scamming | | | | products, with the buyer just paying shipping and |
| people out of money. A surge in the number of | | | | handling. Customers have to cancel their orders |
| "free trial offer" scams has left hundreds of | | | | before the trial period expires. The problem is that |
| thousands of people around the world out of | | | | this trial period is usually only 10 to 14 days from |
| pocket and looking for answers, said Bryan | | | | the day the order was placed. Miss the deadline |
| Nettles of Pure Acai Products. | | | | and you end up billed $85.90 every month. |
| Pure Acai Products markets acai supplements in | | | | Another company in the firing line is Central Coast |
| the US, but the problem of operating in such a | | | | Nutraceuticals, about which the BBB serving |
| market is that there are a large number of shady | | | | Central, Northern and Western Arizona has |
| dealers tarnishing the name of acai berries and | | | | received more than 1,400 complaints. The |
| acai products. | | | | company offers a risk-free trial with monthly billing |
| "Hundreds of thousands of people have been | | | | of $40 for customers who don't cancel their |
| ripped off by companies who claim to offer free | | | | orders. |
| trials, tarnishing the good name of what is still a | | | | It sounds simple enough. So why aren't people |
| wonderful health food. As a general rule, people | | | | simply canceling their orders? The first problem is |
| should stay away from any company offering | | | | that these companies are elusive. The phone |
| free trials. We see these scammers putting up | | | | numbers they give out are useless - buyers |
| dozens of new websites everyday offering the | | | | usually find themselves on hold indefinitely before |
| free trial offers," said Nettles. | | | | being cut off. There have also been complaints |
| The problem is on such a large scale that people | | | | about unauthorized charges made to credit cards. |
| who have been duped email their complaints to | | | | Acai berries are big business. Last year, sales of |
| Pure Acai Products because there is no way of | | | | acai berry products were close to $15 million - and |
| getting in touch with the real con artists. | | | | the Internet is the primary marketplace where |
| Acai berries are native of the Brazilian rain forest. | | | | people are looking for these products. |
| The profile of acai berries has been raised over | | | | Nettles added, "Sales of acai berry products are |
| the past 12 months thanks to celebrities such as | | | | still growing. People haven't been dissuaded from |
| Oprah Winfrey featuring acai products on their | | | | the actual products, but now they understand |
| shows. | | | | they have to be a bit more careful where they |
| Acai berries are rich in antioxidants, fatty acids | | | | order from." |
| and fiber, leading to claims of anti-aging, increased | | | | Acai products come in various forms - juices, |
| energy levels and enhanced libidos. The temptation | | | | powders, capsules, jams and so on - ands their |
| of free trial offers is enough to lure most people | | | | popularity is showing no sign of slowing, despite |
| in. | | | | the presence of fraudsters. |
| The Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued a | | | | An acai diet is no bad thing - the health benefits |
| warning about these acai free trial offer scams on | | | | of the berries are real - but it's important to be |
| January 6. The scammers entice people to sign up | | | | careful about where you source these products |
| for free trials only for customers to end up | | | | from. Free trial offers should immediately sound |
| paying more than they bargained for. | | | | alarm bells. |