23 February 2009

A spoof to stop a scam

At first glance, this weight loss website promises products that some might find convincing: "Feast on favourite foods and lose up to 20 pounds a week. With Fat Foe pads you can kiss your dieting days goodbye." Another product, Glucobate, claims to be an "all-natural diabetes breakthrough."

But, as the Guardian reports, the products on this site aren't connected to the internet scams that flood inboxes looking for consumers to buy into their weight-loss goods. Each year, 200,000 consumers spend close to £20m annually on fake promises from health and diet scam sites, leaving the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) trying to stop the scammers.

So the OFT has launched spoof sites that prevent scammers from doing business and educate consumers. The first website, gives visitors some hidden clues about who's actually running the site, for example the www.consumerdirect.gov.uk URL, but works to tempt unobservant readers with "money back guarantees" or "order now" promises.

The spoof is modelled on similar campaigns run in the United States and Canada, which use internet banners to drive consumers to the fake websites, therefore preventing scammers from doing business.

Mike Haley, the OFT's director of consumer protection, told the Guardian that scammers often target vulnerable people who are desperate to lose weight. He added: "These products are often worthless and can even be dangerous with untested and potentially harmful ingredients. Always seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist before you part with your money."

The OFT's research has shown that the victims of health scams are most often women between the ages of 35 and 64, but that less than one per cent of those victims ever report the scam to the authorities.

Alice Tuff, a development officer at Sense About Science - a charity fighting misrepresentations about scientific evidence - said: "The internet is cluttered with adverts and chat-room conversations testifying to 'incredible' benefits from untested, sometimes bogus, cures and treatments.

"The emotional and financial costs of these for the people who get drawn in can be huge and it is vital that we keep promoting public vigilance in tackling this serious problem."

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