My Call to the FTC on Consumer Retrieval Services
Following up on Consumer Retrieval Services, I decided to give a call today to my friends at the FTC. To see if in fact CRS was “working with” or being monitored by them, their phone numbers were run through a database to see if any information could be pulled up.
I gave the assistant the 4 numbers I have access to.
1-866-454-5109 which was the number to call back to order a package
And the 3 numbers listed with the BBB listing:
Phone Number:
(866) 454-5109
(602) 772-3157
Fax Number:
(602) 870-5703
The FTC had no knowledge of any of these numbers, and in addition when supplying the names of the owners of the business Paul Rosenburg and Frank Epifani they had no knowledge of these two names.
Perhaps there is a “secret bat phone” I am unaware of. For now, I’m lead to believe at this current time that CRS is not connected with the FTC – even though their business may be following “rules” to keep their business in tact.
I am truly saddened at this time by the information found. I would have liked to have found a quick and easy way for my friend Jim to get his money back but I am led to believe Consumer Retrieval Services is not the answer.
I encourage others who have been approached by this company – don’t take my word on anything and do your own investigation! In addition, I still invite anyone who has had success with this company to share your experience.
I questioned the manager at CRS a couple of days ago and had asked why their companies website was still not up. His reply to me was something along the lines of “that’s what got people in trouble in the first place.”
He explained the site was on the way, but was also well aware on the ease of creating fake testimonials and other nefarious tactics to convince the potential buyer. I have to wonder – is CRS using terms like FTC and BBB to instill a safe feeling to their future clients? A reminder – anyone can get on the BBB. Just because a business is there does not mean it is automatically safe. The FTC informed me that any agencies they are working with get listed on their website – and phone numbers would have been available in the database.
As I finish my bowl of Raisin Bran and scold myself for not doing “work” I should be doing right now I ponder the significance of meeting my friend Jim just a week ago, him telling me his scam story, and the call coming just a couple of days after that from CRS while I was in the room sitting next to him. Could there be some mysterious forces at work? Am I just highly alert to this type of thing having been though much of it myself? Just coincidence?
I can only report my findings here – and as always I hope them to be helpful to others.
To those who may get calls from this company, please ask questions and don’t be too quick to pull out that charge card. I encourage you to seek out others who may have experienced the same scam that you did (I’m referring to the scam that got you that call from CRS in the first place) and create a task force of your own. A mastermind group can accomplish many great things in a much shorter period and a cause that brings a group of people together can be not only a rewarding experience, but a great way to heal personally as well.
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FTC, Affiliates, Product Claims, Article Marketing, Kimkins? Phew!
I have to begin today with the source of the sudden frenzy:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9a58f44c-1fae-11de-a1df-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
It appears the FTC has finally decided to start cracking down on products that are promoted via viral marketing and using false claims. This crack down can be extended to blogs as well who chose to publish those materials.
The main target of the new guidelines appears to be the widespread practice of viral marketing in which companies recruit non- employees to talk up products in exchange for samples or promotions.
So, where does this put things?
Well, product owners are now responsible for what other are saying about the product. In addition, as a blog owner – should you blog something about a product endorsing it, you could be in hot water if the findings you publish are not true.
I had to think about all the original articles that Kimkins had floating around. Those articles are still found on miscelaneous blogs, and many are so far from the truth as far as the information they deliver. The original source of many of those artilcles can be traced back to Kimkins.com. And what becomes of the article directories harboring those materials? The viral marketing that has been touched on refers more toware social sites like Twitter and Facebook – but should only one child be punished for being bad when all of them did it?
What is to be said about the Kimkins affiliate program? Affiliates who can not afford the plan are incentived with the option to promote the diet, sell a few, and get a membership. But, how do you promote something you know nothing about? You are reliant on sources found freely on the web.
An uneducated blogger may choose to find previously published articles as a means to promote. Hey, we’ve seen it happen folks. In turn, the blogger can be held responsible for publishing misleading information, as well as the main source of the product – in this particular case I’m referring to Kimkins.con.
I wish these matters had been brought up a few years ago.
And while some marketers are beginning to scream “Not fair!” It forces marketers to be a little more careful of what they are promoting.
I won’t lie to you. There is an easy formula to marketing and it is quite possible to follow that formula over and over – using it for a variety of products available online. It almost makes it too simple to sell something.
I for one have no issue with taking some time to decide if what I’m promoting is really all that it says it is. I hope this scare will encourage others to take a good look at what they are doing. It could really help clean up some of the crap out there.
Share this Post[?] Part 2: 1on40
I was pulling my hair out somewhat this morning (and you’d think I’d be much more careful about it after Kimkins) as I was researching someone who I am still trying to figure out how to go about “calling them out.”
Anyway, it all boiled back down to SEO again, and I was reminded of 1on40. My first typing in of the term was an interesting typo – that was 10n40 – that’s a ten, the letter “n” and the number 40. The o (letter o) and the 0 (zero) are in very close placement on the keyboard. I’ll give that little tidbit away for free for anyone who happens over this often depressing and sadistic blog. So, I got some results with the typo’s (very exciting) and decided to type in properly, and noticed that finally the sweet little hub page I was following had trickled down and the master “1on40″ was at the top.
I was sad to see the hub page project by Terry G had dropped to 3rd on the ranking. But to be honest – I called it a week or so ago. Yes, all those new affiliates have slapped coded banners on their sites, in addition to sprinkling links in blogs, hub pages, and God only knows where – and now there are a bazillion back links getting settled in – and what a mess this will be if indeed 1on40 is deemed a scam. The clean-up will be enormous. The winner now is the 1on40 headquarters dot net and dot com sites.
I am beginning to see the nay-sayers now. A person going by the name of “felix” appeared on Terry’s webpage, crying that google has banned his site, and his page rank has dropped. I wish felix had left a little more information. If anyone would like to leave comments here on this blog, with details and links to your sites please do.
I was a little excited to see my “part 1: 1on40” hanging in there on the front page. I had only blogged once before about it, and I was sure there had to be some people pushing it harder than I was. I think one of my advantages here is the sheer power of Wordpress.
Someone joked that maybe 1on40 had shut down scam.com. The site was down for a few days, and like a junkie I was jonesing for scam to get fixed. It has been back up for a week or so now. I visited Scam, and found this great thread here. 1on40 is being compared to MTT aka morethantraffic (dot) com. This company is gone, but many suspect this is a repeat, including Reg, who has his own problems with 1on40 and is documenting them at his forum.
This is just a mini-update for now, and I’ll be continuing on with this soon. I’m sure some people will be interested in some video stuff I have done (if the real scam is revealed) and more that I’m working on – like how to file a complaint with the FTC.
Share this Post[?] Are Kimkins Affiliates Responsible?
We are still finding many affiliate blogs, links and websites promoting Kimkins. Myspace has some pages up using the old “I lost 200 lbs in less than a year” story and the fake Kimmer in the lawnchair. What’s even more repulsive is at the bottom:
“Who I’d like to meet:
New Affiliates! Sign up Here To start earning money now! Earn money by promoting the Kimkins diet!”
So, who is responsible? Who is going to be held accountable when Kimkins lawsuit has to pay out? Read more
Share this Post[?] File a Complaint with the FTC on Kimkins!
Filed under: Uncategorized, kimkins, video, viral marketing
Here’s some help with those forms. Come watch, and I’ll tell you how I filed a complaint with the FTC.
Why should you do this? Well, ask yourself. Can you live with Kimkins?
Share this Post[?] Smoke This
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