FTC Takes Action Against Fake News Websites
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office said that many websites that feature news report about weight-loss benefits of acai berry products aren’t genuine. Â
They have claimed that these news websites are fake and that the claims about acai berry products helping people to reduce weight is not supported by science. During the last week, FTC has filed 10 lawsuits in courts across the U.S. and Illinois Attorney General has filed an additional lawsuit in her state against the affiliate marketers of acai berry products.
The affiliate marketers place billions of ads linking to these fake news websites and consumers have paid almost $10 million for acai berry products.
Some of the websites in the list are using names such as News 6 News Alerts and Health 5 Beat Health News. The fake news sites use logos of legitimate news websites to easily fool the people into believing them.
“We’re alleging that nearly everything about the defendants’ websites is false and deceptive,” said Charles Harwood, deputy director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
These fake news sites feature a news reports who always produces the same result across several websites. According to the report, the reporter always lost 25 pounds in four weeks without changing either the diet or exercise routine. Moreover, the picture of the reporter is of a real-life French reporter who did not even give the permission for her image to be used.
“We allege this is pure fabrication,” Harwood said. “There never was any sort of test conducted by any independent reporter, and the weight-loss results … are impossible to achieve. There simply is no scientific evidence that acai berries can help anyone lose weight, let alone cause rapid and substantial weight loss.”
The purported news sites also contain “user” comments about weight loss using the acai berry products, including Acai Max and Acai Optimum, the FTC said. But the sites don’t let visitors post comments, and the same user comments appeared on multiple sites “complete with the same spelling and grammatical errors,” he said.
The FTC lawsuits have asked courts to halt the websites’ allegedly deceptive practices.
So for people still looking for weight loss tips, please stay away from these fake news websites.
Hey there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Thank you
Hi, thanks for the comment. Please feel free to share the blog.
I cannot thank you enough for the post.Thanks Again. Want more.
Pingback: driver indirin
Love the new look. I liked this article. Many thanks for this marvelous post.
Thanks a lot for the blog.Thanks Again. Will read on…
I found your blog site on google and test just a few of your early posts. Proceed to maintain up the excellent operate. I simply further up your RSS feed to my MSN Information Reader. Looking for forward to studying extra from you in a while!…
Do you people have a twitter fan web page? I looked for for one on facebook but could not find it, I’d really like to become a fan!
Yes we do have a Twitter page, just click on the right of our website. thanks
hi there, i just found your blog via yahoo, and i must say that you compose exceptionally well on your web portal. i am really moved by the way that you compose, and the content is good. anyhow, i would also love to know whether you would love to exchange links with my web portal? i will be to the great extent than willing to reciprocate and enter your link off in the link section. waiting for your response, i give my sincere thanks and have a great day!