CONSUMER FRAUD ALERT: "As Seen on Oprah" is NOT Oprah Endorsed – Cyber Highway Robbery

Previously published on Yahoo Contributor Network June 16, 2009

So you think you're dealing with a legitimate company because you read, "As Seen On Oprah," right? Guess what. That's what scam artists want you to think - because in our minds, if Oprah discussed a certain product on her show, she must endorse it. Sadly we further tell ourselves that she and other high-profile celebrities endorse every product associated with their names.

But we forget that not all products come from reputable companies.

The ads draw you in with catchy phrases and what you perceive to be bona fide celebrity endorsements, and then, while you are totally oblivious to what is taking place behind your back, they drain you of your savings.

They start with an ad filled with promises of looking as young as Madonna, and you are drawn to a headline that makes you wonder, how DO these celebrities stay so young and so thin?

Then you see the name of the product, maybe it's Resveratrol (RES V), "apparently" endorsed by a variety of people, including Oprah and Dr. Oz, and you think, Hmm, I might try that - after all, it's FREE, and look whose name appears alongside the product.

The offer for a FREE TRIAL seems irresistible. But BE WARNED - this free product can end up costing sometimes thousands of dollars, depending on how much money you have in your checking account. If you are not aware of the scam, these pilferers will continue to pocket YOUR MONEY until YOUR MONEY is gone.

The terminology they use to attract your attention is proven to work on people who want to look younger, healthier, or just better. All they have to do is get a celebrity to endorse their product and BAM! It's Sold!

HOWEVER, "As Seen On Oprah" says NOTHING about Oprah recommending the product or endorsing THAT PARTICULAR COMPANY'S SPECIFIC PRODUCT. All it says is, "as seen on."

So what happens when you order the FREE TRIAL and how is it even possible for them to bilk you of your entire savings?

Here's how it works: When you follow the link to a web site that tells you the product is free, but the shipping will cost you, be forewarned!

ENTERING YOUR CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD NUMBER IS THE BEGINNING OF THE EXTRACTION OF YOUR MONEY! That is when the thieves get you, because when you give them your debit or credit card information, you give them access to your account. And like pigs at a trough, they eat voraciously, several times a day, until they gather sometimes $300 a day or more until you are left with NOTHING. Unless you call your bank every day, you may not notice your missing funds until it is too late.

And what happens when you call the bank to report the problem? They ask you if you notified the company. Yes, you have called the number on the package or bottle numerous times. NOBODY responds. These companies get phone lines they NEVER answer just to LOOK legitimate. The bank has no address on file to give you, and they remind you that THEY are not responsible for the transaction - YOU, after all, were the one who approved the sale.

You argue with them that you approved no such thing, that you wanted only a free trial, that you haven't received anything other than the free trial. And the bank reminds you that you gave out your card number.

In sheer terror you try calling the company again. You hear the phone ring and ring. You make breakfast, take care of business, make lunch, take care of more business - and NEVER talk to a live person, no matter how long you stay on the phone.

And it gets worse. Not only will these crooks charge you over and over again for a product you wanted to try for free - they charge your account for products you never ordered, like acåi berry vitamins and other products you see on the sides of Internet sites you visit.

How do they get away with this fraud? YOU allowed them access to your account. And unless you cut up your credit or debit card and get issued a new one, you will continue to be bled dry from these mosquito-sucking leeches.

These villains are not prosecutable, because they cannot be found. You will never find them on America's Most Wanted, because they are faceless and nameless. They do have one thing in common with some of the most notorious criminals - they are conscienceless as well. If you discover that your money has been stolen, you can report the criminal activity, but you may never be able to prosecute him or her.

The best way to handle online orders is to deal only with reputable companies whose online access includes a phone number where you can interact with real people. If you are in doubt about the company's validity, order a free sample from somebody who actually speaks with you.

And if you see the words, "You can cancel at any time," assume it's an ongoing purchase. Even if you don't actually authorize or agree to the purchase, by merely handing over your debit or credit card information, the company and the bank automatically assume that YOU are responsible for any and all transactions that take place between you and the disreputable company.

You will not be able dispute charges that are still pending though. You will have to wait until the charges actually go through the system. At that time you will have to go through the time-consuming dispute process, where you will discontinue the card the thieves have already stolen, wait for a new card to arrive, go to the bank to process the paperwork, and hopefully learn never to order anything again from ads that promise to make you thin while the only thing thinning out is the money they extract from your checking account or credit card month after month after month.

If you are considering purchasing anything online, find out immediately from your bank how they deal with Internet fraud. It is highly likely they have already dealt with disreputable companies and, though they have no address, they have phone numbers from other victims of Internet crime.

Even though it would do no good to report the fraud, because the people who sell the products are protected merely because they live in foreign countries and will never be prosecuted for their misdeeds, it's always a good idea to alert others either by forwarding a link to this article in an email or blog, and by contacting either the Better Business Bureau, Internet Crime Complaint Center, or Consumer Fraud Reporting. Here are the links:

Better Business Bureau

Internet Crime Complaint Center

Consumer Fraud Reporting

Organix Anti-Breakage Serum with Nourishing Coconut Milk – the Cure for Cancer Hair

If you have “cancer hair” or unruly and unmanageable hair, this blog and this product – Organix Anti-Breakage Serum with Nourishing Coconut Milk – is for you!

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in September, 2009, I began a year-long journey with chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. While having cancer changed many aspects of my life, one very annoying thing it changed, after my hair grew back, was the texture of my hair. Don’t get me wrong. After being bald for so many months, I was thankful to even have hair, but when it grew back dry, curly, and wiry, my hair became quite a challenge. Having never had curls before, I had no clue how to take care of this new brittle entity sitting on my head.

Years ago one of my daughter’s friends introduced me to Organix Coconut Milk. I tried it and liked it, but I always added it after I had already applied mousse or conditioning creams. Still, I was never happy with the results. As my hair grew I searched for just the right combination of hair products to see if my hair would respond to any of them, including gels and leave-in conditioners. I could never find the combination of products that would help my hair look healthy and presentable. 

No matter what I used, though, I always found my way back to Organix Coconut Milk Serum. Then the thought of using this product alone occurred to me. No mousse, no leave-in conditioners, just Organix Anti-Breakage Serum with Nourishing Coconut Milk. So I followed my routine of shampooing and conditioning my hair and then, while my hair was still damp, I applied the Coconut Milk Serum. I first bent my head down, placed some of the serum into my hand, rubbed my hands together, and applied it to the back of my hair. I then put my head upright, used the same procedure on the top, the sides, and the back of my hair. I scrunched the curls all around, and allowed my hair to air dry.

Something surprisingly fun happened – people started commenting on how good my hair looked, soft, shiny, and healthy! My mom decided to buy some and use it on her straight hair and was also happy with the results – she loved her new shine! 

So straight or curly, Organix Anti-Breakage Serum with Nourishing Coconut Milk seems to work for any hair type! If you’re suffering from cancer hair or if your hair is dry and brittle, try this cure for cancer hair!

Chiropractor In A Box – The BackBridge™

When I heard about the BackBridge™, I was skeptical. I’ve had back problems my entire life. Though my scoliosis is slight, the pain it causes is immense. If you shop with me, you might find me sitting on a bench or, in my earlier years, on the floor, or you might see me draped over my shopping cart. Long walks were out of the question.

In the early part of this century I began seeing a chiropractor, and the effects were immediately helpful, but chiropractors were so far out of my budget, I couldn’t afford to see them, so I suffered in silence. What DID help my back pain immensely was implementing advice I received from a friend who’d heard from her physical therapist, after she suffered an injury, that the reason she was experiencing back pain was because she didn’t bend her knees when she walked. When you walk without bending your knees, you put undue pressure on your lower back.

So, to remind myself to bend my knees, I walked around the house with an exaggerated bend for a while until I got used to walking with my knees bent. It helped! But the pain is always present. On days when I know I have to walk for extended periods of time, I also take three mild pain killers and three Bayer Back and Body pills. AND I use my Bed Buddy wrap every morning when possible. 

Still, my back needed more help than just bending my knees, taking pain meds, and using the Bed Buddy, so when I saw the BackBridge™, though it cost a lot of money, I decided that I had to give it a try. And I’m so glad I did. From the first time I tried it, I felt my spine “pop” into alignment, and when my two minutes were up, I felt relief – not complete relief, but some relief. I’ve been using the BackBridge™ once a day for over a month now and I am taking my pain meds less than I was before I started using it.

The BackBridge™ comes in levels. You are supposed to begin with Level #1 and work your way up to the other levels. I started with #2 because my back is also sway and I didn’t think I would even feel the effects of #1 alone. I am now on #3. I may never get past #3, because I’m waiting until I no longer experience pain when I get up from using it. Because my back is so filled with pain all the time, getting off the BackBridge™ is painful – for me – it might not be for you. I have to slowly lift my legs with knees bent, grasp my knees, and pull them toward me as I ease up.

Overall, I would recommend this product for anybody experiencing back pain, especially if going to the chiropractor is not within your budget. I can stand for longer periods of time without experiencing pain, and I’m still making sure my knees are bent when I walk!

UPDATE: June 21, 2015

I'm still using the BackBridge™ almost every day. I rarely take pain meds anymore unless I'm shopping and I know I'll be walking for extended periods of time. I've increased my time to 5 minutes a day and I'm still on #3.

Gift Idea for Bloggers

Do you have a friend who blogs? How about a family member? Does he or she suffer from lack of ideas?

Ideas can be a source of frustration for some bloggers. They WANT to write, but they don't know WHAT to write. Their problem? No ideas! And that's exactly what this book provides – IDEAS – lots of them – hundreds of them.

So if you want a gift idea for the blogger among your friends or in your family, try The Bountiful Book of Blog Ideas: Your Guide to Generating Hundreds of Ideas for Your Blog.

Great Gift Idea for Dog Lovers!

Have you ever wondered what your dog thinks about all day? Wonder no more. Frankie and LuLu will tell you everything you need to know about what it's like to be a dog. This hilarious guide will have you barking – I mean laughing – out loud. You will know exactly how your dogs feel when you dress them up in tutus and you'll learn what they really think of you.

Written by two experts (who really are dogs), Frankie and LuLu, along with their pet, Donna Cavanagh, will give you the bare-bones truth about how it feels to be loved by us weird humans. I provided a link above to make shopping easier for you.

A Canine's Guide to the Good Life would make a great gift for the dog lover in your life.

Considering a MagicJack?

MagicJack ads are everywhere and look so enticing you can't wait to take advantage of their free trial offer. But is MagicJack really as magical as it promises to be?

When I saw MagicJack offering for a FREE TRIAL, I cringed. After all, other products offer free trials and then wipe out your bank account while you await your first order, but I decided to try MagicJack anyway, especially since AT&T soared an additional $10 a month because I wouldn't take advantage of their U-verse option - an option that isn't even offered in my location.

For the rest of the review for this truly magical product, please continue reading 13 Reasons Why You'll Want to Buy a MagicJack by clicking the link.

Belly Fat Buster That Really Works!

Day 1 – I’ll be honest. I’m leery of Forskolin, but I’m so fed up with my enormous belly (I’m embarrassed to tell you its size, but here goes – a whopping nearly 38”) that I HAVE to try SOMETHING beyond exercise! Trust me when I say that when your bones are as tiny as mine are, a 37 and a half+ inch waist looks like you have a hippopotamus wrapped around your belly. 

Another belly fat buster I once took, Refirm, promised to get rid of belly fat (it didn’t), so I promised myself that I would never fall for another belly blaster advertised “promise”. Dr. Oz, however, was so convincing about Forskolin, I decided to give it a try. And, trust me when I say that I will NOT post this blog if it doesn’t work (why would I divulge my belly size if I can’t improve it). I will, however, leave that sentence in if Forskolin does work, but I will post a completely different blog that says Forskolin doesn’t work without telling you how fat my belly is.

First, a little about why my belly is so fat. I assume the cause is stress. The rest of my family isn’t fat, and the rest of me isn’t fat, but this huge gelatinous blob of blubber that sits around my midsection is so incredibly ENORMOUS, it looks as if it belongs on a much bigger body! Yes, I’m stressed. I’m always stressed – about finances mostly. But I put on most of my belly fat when my Marine son went to Iraq (4 times) in the early-to-mid 2000’s during the Iraq War. 

In addition to not being able to get rid of the blubber, my belly has expanded over these past 13 years. I continue to stress about situations that affect my son, my three girls and all of my grandkids. I honestly attempt to relieve stress by trying to relax, but my body refuses to cooperate. It apparently feels most comfortable in washing-machine mode (agitated).

Because some of you know me and have seen me, I should mention that even though you tell me I look just fine and that I don’t need to lose weight, you’re right in a sense – I’m really not fat anywhere – except my tummy. I probably need to lose about fifteen pounds of BELLY FAT, though, which I keep, for obvious reasons, hidden. You would never know to look at me unless a strong wind blew my blouse upward, because I wear enormous tops that cover the blubber. I’m certainly not going to expose that mountainous mass to you or anyone else. Seriously, I would love to be able to wear clothing that doesn’t make me look as if I’m wearing a tent.

As a result of everything I’ve mentioned so far, I decided to give Forskolin a try. What determines whether or not a product works (for me anyway) is if the product works when the person taking it doesn’t change his or her lifestyle in any way. I’ve tried taking Garcinia Cambogia, but I was never very consistent about taking it, so I can’t comment on whether or not it contributes to weight loss. I can say that taking it inconsistently didn’t work. I’m just hoping that Forskolin works because I honestly can’t stand not only looking at my enormous belly, but also knowing I have to wear pants that either come with an elastic band around the waist or fit fairly comfortably beneath my blob. In the past couple of decades I have been unable to wear anything around the waist that comes with a snap or a button.

Will I ever get a completely flat belly? Probably not. I tried sit-ups for an entire summer one year and the only thing that resulted was a bad back made worse. After my third child was born, my uterus fell out over my pubic bone, a matter made worse after the birth of my fourth child. I had to wear a band for several months after each child was born, but it never again became flat. I also have a slight case of scoliosis, so I’ve had a bad back for as long as I can remember. After 90 days of giving sit-ups all I had, I gave up and worked more on healing my aching back, which continues to be an ongoing problem.

Anyway, I’m hopeful that I’ve found the one product that will melt belly fat and allow me the dignity of wearing clothes – and a bathing suit – that I won’t be afraid to wear in public. Some other product manufacturers (like those that make Refirm – read my review of that product HERE) tell you to work out like a fiend in order to see results. Why would I have to use the product at all if working out gets the same results? No – if a product works, it stands alone. 

So here it is, Day 2, (May 26, 2014) and I still have a fat belly. However, I have found that I am emptying my colon more frequently – without the urgency brought on by such things as enemas or suppositories. So that’s good, especially for people like me who have a problem with constipation and sometimes go as long as 3 weeks without ever having a bowel movement. You have no idea what a relief it is to be able to “go” and not feel so heavy. I’m fairly certain that constipation is due to stress, but as far as Forskolin is concerned, so far, I’m impressed. 

One thing I should mention. When I bought this product, a little statement appeared on the page saying that people taking Forskolin also bought 7-Keto, a non-steroidal product that is supposed to speed up metabolism and aid in weight loss, so I’m taking that as well. For the past two mornings, half an hour before breakfast, I have taken two Forskolin tablets and one 7-Keto tablet. I’ll do the same for dinner later today.

But I’m not changing my daily routine. I work out infrequently – just enough to tell myself I’m working out – but how can I fairly judge a product if I change my regimen? Nope – Forskolin will be judged on its merits (if it has any) alone. I’ll write more when – and if – I see results.

Day 10 and Forskolin appears to be working. My flabby belly is down to 36.25.” I can fit into some jeans and shorts that I couldn’t fit into before. The movie, Flowers for Algernon comes to mind, though, after I measure myself. What if I stop taking it for some reason (like not being able to afford it, or not remembering to take it, and I suddenly become the Sea Witch from The Little Mermaid, who, after she is discovered to be the Sea Witch (she was pretending to be Ariel), balloons out of herself and bellies all over the ship. Will I have to take Forskolin forever?

I forgot to take a dose today (June 5, Day 12). We’ll see if Ursula the Sea Witch faces me in the mirror tomorrow.

I was going to wait until I finished the entire bottle before I posted my results, but when I measured myself this morning (June 9, Day 16), I was down to just under 35”! Still a very flabby tummy for my frame, but with results like this, I am so excited, I feel that I should post them now.

Unexpected results from taking Forskolin – I found myself eating less, because I felt fuller faster. I found myself wanting to exercise more because I was so happy to see such immediate results, I couldn’t help but want to rush my progress. I discovered, after researching the product, that Forskolin helps with respiratory issues. Because I have asthma and numerous nodules on my lungs (scars from previous upper respiratory infections), I feel like Forskolin is a win-win for me. Nowhere in Forskolin’s literature does any mention appear concerning help with constipation, but coming from someone who has had that problem my whole life, either the Forskolin or the 7-Keto or possibly a combination of the two of them has helped to relieve mine. 

Other reasons to take Forskolin – According to WebMD, “When taken by mouth, forskolin is also used to treat allergies, skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, obesity, painful menstrual periods (wish I had known about that little perk when I was having periods), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), urinary tract infections (UTI), bladder infections, advanced cancer, blood clots, sexual problems in men, trouble sleeping (insomnia), and convulsions (italics mine).” If my cancer comes back (my type of cancer has a high recurrence rate, so it might), that’s one more reason to take Forskolin.

How I take Forskolin. For rapid belly melt, Dr. Oz recommends taking 125 mg Forskolin with a minimum of 10% forskolin (my bottle says 20%) before breakfast. He also recommends consuming a “1/2 teaspoon of one of these spices at every meal: cinnamon, clove, oregano, cayenne, or turmeric. Use cinnamon and clove at breakfast by adding a dash to coffee or oatmeal, and sprinkle the savory ones on your salads, sandwiches, and main dishes the rest of the day for a flavorful seasoning that can help fry belly fat.” 

Dr. Oz also recommends drinking green tea lemonade to supercharge belly melting and eating pickled peppers and jalapeño peppers. I take 2 Forskolin tablets and one 7-Keto tablet twice a day, 20 minutes to half an hour before my 2 biggest meals of the day. That could be breakfast and dinner or lunch and dinner, depending on what I eat for each meal. If I have a smoothie, for instance, I don’t take Forskolin and 7-Keto with that meal.

One concern I had about Forskolin was its expense, but the way I look at it now is that what I’m saving by not eating as much as I used to eat more than makes up for the expense. I just purchased my second bottle of Forskolin and my second bottle of 7-Keto and my food is lasting longer!

So does Forskolin really work to get rid of belly fat? Absolutely! I don’t know what kinds of results you’ll get, but I’m very happy with mine so far. I have many more inches to lose, but I hope that I’ll be able to wear my bathing suit by July without a bunch of flab folding out over the bottom, and when that blousy top blows in the wind, I won’t be embarrassed when it exposes my future blubberless belly.

Added information – in my zeal for better health, I have incorporated Dr. Oz’s suggestions in a couple of my food preparations that might also contribute to my belly burn (adding spices listed above).

My smoothie consists of whatever fruits and veggies I have on hand, (such as fresh bananas, frozen strawberries {the fresh ones go bad too quickly}, carrots, and fresh spinach), yogurt, a couple of sprinkles of cinnamon, a teaspoon of honey, a teaspoon of peanut butter, and a couple of sprinkles of cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper, which has capsicum, adds some zing to my smoothie, and since peppers are supposed to aid in melting belly fat, I feel I’m helping the Forskolin do its job more efficiently.

My dip for veggies (I hate eating raw vegetables without dips) consists of 16 oz greek yogurt, a package of dry vegetable or onion soup mix, and spices, including cayenne pepper, white pepper, and sea salt, or garlic sea salt.

So bottom line, is this – for me, Forskolin is working! If I see more amazing results over the next few weeks, I’ll update my blog, but for now, I’m very happy with my belly burn progress. I’m not where I want to be yet, but I can see me getting there now!

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