Introduction:
You see them on TV all the time. Usually they’ll play late at night, or in the early morning. Most of the time, they’re usually “As Seen On TV” products. You might see a copper, non-stick pan for sale for example. Maybe a pillow that suppose to give you your best night’s rest. Yeah, those might be great products. Good enough for you to buy two, right? Those might be examples of infomercials that are not scams.
However, there are infomercials that exist that are all part of some sort of scam. Since infomercials exist on TV, it would be hard to distinguish what is real from what is fake. But hopefully this article will show you exactly how you can tell a real infomercial from a scammy one, so you don’t become the next victim. It is always important to know what scams are in existence. So let’s dive into what these infomercial scams consist of and how you can protect yourself from them.
A Brief History On Infomercial Scams:
It’s unclear when these infomercial scams came about. But, there is one notable case where infomercial scams came to light. One notable figure that can be associated with this type of scam, is someone who goes by the name, Kevin Trudeau. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) began keeping an eye on Trudeau in 1998. They fined him $500,000 for his role in deceptively advertising a product line known as, “Eden’s Secret Nature’s Purifying Product”. Trudeau falsely claimed that the product was designed to boost a person’s immune system.
Trudeau then started an infomercial where he claimed that eating coral calcium would cure cancer. Once again, the FTC began to pursue Trudeau vigorously. In 2007, they ended up obtaining a court order that would band Trudeau from making infomercials, for a minimum of three years. Trudeau believed that his First Amendment rights were being infringed. In retaliation, Trudeau began to promote books rather than diet supplements in a new set of infomercials.
(Speeding forward) As of 2019, Trudeau is serving time in federal prison from his dealing in scam, deceptive activities.
How Does An Infomercial Scam Work:
Typically, there are two kinds of industries that are hotbeds for infomercial scams: the money making industry (i.e.–Get rich quick type of programs), and health industry product’s. Some of the infomercials you’ll see, if any, will be making these bold and too good to be true claims, stating that by paying they’re one time sign up fee and following they’re proven system, you could be a millionaire in no time. Not to be outdone, there are some infomercials that showcase so called “health products”, that suppose to cure certain illnesses and diseases. But at the end of the day, these programs and products only end up being absolutely bogus!
How To Determine If An Infomercial Is Real Or Fake:
Since you see Infomercials on television almost all the time, it is widely assumed by many, that the product being advertised is legitimate. But thanks to scammy infomercials infiltrating our television airwaves, we’ve became a little skeptical of whether or not it’s a real product. If you see an infomercial on a product or program that might interest you, but you want to know if it’s the real deal without even purchasing the product first, you’ll have to consider the following:
Examine The Infomercial: If you notice that something looks digitally added, the product may be a potential scam. The infomercial should have a picture enlarging the item, so you can clearly see what it is. When this is the case, you should see a caption that says “picture enlarged to show detail”. You should also Google the picture to double check.
Decide If The Product Is Realistic Or Not: Keep in mind that not all products were made to be perfect. Products and programs will always have it’s pros and cons. Some people will like it, and others won’t. Yes, there will be products that claim to be fireproof, waterproof, unbreakable, foolproof, etc. But at the same time, still check to see if there are any flaws. Like for example: “this item is too big to take with you. But call now in the next half hour, and get the portable version absolutely free”. Always check that the advertiser’s are being honest and realistic.
Get Opinions: As you’re watching the infomercial, you’ll need to make a note of the product. Get the name of the product and Google it. Carefully read through all the reviews you come across. Obviously some will like the product, and others won’t. You should go by the majority opinion of what the reviews are stating. You should Google the manufacturer of the product as well.
But Wait, There’s More: Find out what else they offer in terms of products. Sometimes, they have other products they’re selling, plus bonuses they’re offering, all for free. It may be a scam if the infomercial only offers the same upgrade or free gift.
Check The Price: The common price for most of these products is $19.99. Alternatively, they’ll offer “X easy payments of $Y”. But the payments may not be as easy as you think.
What Is The Value? Most infomercials will tell you that this particular product cost a certain amount of money, but they’ll reduce the price. However, the price is not what it’s stating it’ll be. This is because of shipping and handling fee’s. Some companies may even hit you with false charges. If the company continues to falsely charge your credit card, contact your credit card company and block them immediately.
Weigh The Pros and Cons: After all these bad judgements, you might conclude the product in not being worth it. But if it only has a mistake or two, it may be a product worth investing in. If it has more than 4, 5, or 6 mistakes, this should be a product you choose to stay away from.
Protecting Yourself From Infomercial Scams:
The obvious way to protect yourself, is to do your due diligence. If you decide to purchase a product, you’ll need to be aware of how the customer service representative treats you. You may deal with professional, kind operators, or rude ones. Never under any circumstances answer personal questions like “what is your ID, credit card, routing, banking, or social security “number”. If this happens, cancel your order. Warn them that if they still send you the product, you will report their company.
My Conclusion For Infomercial Scams:
It may be hard to distinguish which infomercials are real, and which ones are fake. But knowing what to look out for, in terms of the infomercial itself or the product, will help protect you from becoming a victim to these type of scams. Be sure to pass this along to those in your family who may be vulnerable to scams like this.
Do you have any experience with being scammed by a late night Infomercial? Do you have any questions concerning my scam review on Infomercials? If you do, please leave your comments or questions below, and I will be more than happy to get back to you. Thanks again for checking out my post, and good luck with your success online..
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