THE BIZOP NEWS

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From the Center For Science in the Public Interest about website fraud:

"The Center for Science in the Public Interest is warning consumers not to enroll online in supposedly free trials of diet products made with the trendy Brazilian berry açai (pronounced a-sigh-EE).

There's no evidence whatsoever to suggest that açai pills will help shed pounds, flatten tummies, cleanse colons, enhance sexual desire, or perform any of the other commonly advertised functions.

And thousands of consumers have had trouble stopping recurrent charges on their credit cards when they cancel their free trials."

This has all the indicators of a pretty good short con, the typical consumer will reason that there might be something to the Acai if everyone else is trying it, and after all it is free.

The first argument is known as Pascal's Wager, and is a favourite argument of the short con criminal because of its seduction.  It just might be true, just might be true that I can diet, have a healthy lifestyle by eating a magic berry.

What is there to lose?  Especially if it is free?

The use of free samples invokes a number of compliance tricks, the obvious being reciprocity.

But "free" also connotes "without risk".  And so the con criminal presents as fantastic if unlikely opportunity that is "without risk".

As David Schardt of the CSPI states:

"If Bernard Madoff were in the food business, he'd be offering 'free' trials of açai-based weight-loss products," said CSPI senior nutritionist David Schardt, who authored an exposé of the scam in the April issue of CSPI'sNutrition Action Healthletter.

"Law enforcement has yet to catch up to these rogue operators. Until they do, consumers have to protect themselves."