"Free" Colon Cleansers

When you search online for colon cleansers, you will come across a lot of websites offering "free trials" of their products. Nothing is cheaper than free, so you may be tempted to fill out the order form conveniently placed right in front of you. But as soon as you do that, you may have just been scammed!

Here’s How the Scam Works:
"Hook, Line and Sinker"

The "Hook"

This so-called free trial or negative option scam appears to have originated in the weight loss industry. Many products containing the acai berry are marketed mostly in this fashion.

Dozens of scam websites are built on essentially two themes:

1) The first type of these scam websites may list 3 to 5 of these "free trial" products that have supposedly been ‘evaluated’ by the site’s "experts", who then tell you which one is considered the best. In some instances, each of the listed "free trial" products is sold by the same company.

Many of these types of scam websites use -- without authorization -- the logos of various news groups, including CNN, ABC, Fox News, CBS, etc., or even the names and pictures of celebrities, such as Oprah, Rachel Ray, Dr. Oz, Katie Couric and others. Of course, the purpose of these scam websites is to mislead you into believing that the "free trial"’ products are somehow endorsed, promoted or sponsored by these specific news groups and celebrities.

2) The second type of these scam websites may directly offer you a "risk-free" trial. In fact, the order forms for these false "risk-free" trials immediately pop up in your face as soon as you click on the site’s link. Here again, many of these "risk-free" trial sites also use -- without authorization -- the logos of various news groups and/or the names and images of celebrities, for the specific purpose of making you believe that the "risk-free" trial product is supposedly endorsed by these group and celebrities.

The "Line"

First of all, when you land on these websites you’ll hardly find any description of the actual product itself, only the supposed benefits are listed. Then they reel you in by telling you that you can try it for FREE! The only thing needed at that point is for you to pay for the $4 to $20 shipping charge, depending on the particular website. But, before you do that, read the fine print. Here’s an example of what you might see:

Customers who order this product will automatically be enrolled in a 12-day free trial and receive in the mail a full 30 day supply bottle. Your 12 day trial begins 3 days from today to allow time for shipping. After the 12 day free trial, customers will be charged $69.95. Customers will be billed $69.95 again 30 days after the trial begins and each month thereafter on the same credit card the customer used for the shipping and handling. … You expressly agree to the automatic monthly billing set forth herein. You expressly agree to honor all charges and fees due in association with this Subscription.

And "Sinker"…
Here’s How You Get Trapped

So, once you fill out their order form for the ‘free’ product, you’re effectively trapped, as follows:

1) They have your credit card number and charge it right away for shipping and handling. Obviously, this $4 to $20 charge is intended to pay for more than just shipping and handling. But the worst is yet to come.

2) Specifically, around 12 days later the scamming company will charge your credit card for $69.95. Typically, you would receive notice of this charge in your credit card statement 2-3 weeks later, and by then you will have already incurred another credit card charge of $69.95. And, because your “subscription” is based on “automatic monthly billing”, these unauthorized credit card charges will continue, unless and until you cancel your subscription. But, canceling your subscription has been made difficult, if not impossible -- especially when there’s no contact phone number or email to reach the scammer, or when there is, your calls and emails simply go unanswered. Accordingly, many people have reported multiple such unauthorized credit card charges, and have been left with the burden and great inconvenience of having to cancel their credit card.

How to Spot a Colon Cleansing Scam?

The warning signs of a possible scam website that might engage in these repeated and unauthorized credit card charges, can include the following:

1) The words "Free Trial", "Risk Free" and "Free Sample" along with an order form should raise a red flag. An example of what a "free trial" order form may look like, is as follows:

2) The unauthorized use of famous logos from various news groups, including the following:⁽¹⁾

Often times these logos are preceded by the words "As Seen On".

3) The unauthorized use of celebrity names and pictures, including Oprah, Dr. Oz, and Rachel Ray:

4) No "Contact Us" page on the website; or if there is one, no company name, address and phone number is posted.

5) Most will have a "Terms and Conditions" or "Terms of Use" link hidden at the bottom of the website, which contains the rules of your entrapment.

6) Refunds are made very difficult and complicated, if issued at all. These companies are generally hard to reach. Their terms may also specifically state that no refund will be given.

Buyer Beware!

The most important step is this: Before ordering cleansing or detox products on any website, scroll to the bottom, find the "Terms" or "Contact" link, click on it and read it!

If after reading those rules, you're still willing to give them your personal info and credit card number, then you can only blame yourself!

Otherwise your only alternative is to order from reputable companies. But reputable companies normally don't hand out their products for free.

Report a scam

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⁽¹⁾ CNN® is a registered trademark of Cable News Network LP, LLLP; ABC® is a registered trademark of American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.; Fox News® is a registered trademark of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation; CBS® and CBS News® are registered trademarks of CBS Broadcasting Inc.; USA Today® is a registered trademark of Media West-GSI, Inc.; and, WebMD® is a registered trademark of WedMD, LLC.

* Equal Time *
The Reputable Side
of Colon Cleansing

The mission of this website is to inform health consumers about some of the pitfalls of shopping online for health supplements. We are not against colon cleansing or detoxification as natural health therapies. In fact, after addressing the different cleansing scams, we’d now like to give equal time to the other side -- the honest companies that don’t use misleading free trials and negative option techniques.

We’ve conducted the following interview with Connie Swanson, Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Alaven Consumer Healthcare, Inc., which markets and sells the reputable DrNatura brand
of cleansing and detox products.

Cleanse & Detox Watch (CDW): Thank you for joining us to tell us a little bit about the ‘other side’ of colon cleansing. We’ve talked a lot about scams but you are here to represent the reputable companies now.

Connie: We believe that colon cleansing is one of the most important things you can do for your health. DrNatura was the first company to popularize colon cleansing awareness. During the past 11 years, over a million customers have placed their trust in DrNatura branded products because of the consistent high quality and effectiveness of these products, and because we always treat our customers with honesty and respect. Cleansing products have become some of the most popular health supplements of all time. Unfortunately, the downside of this popularity is that the scam artists have also appeared.

CDW: What makes DrNatura products different from other colon cleansers?

Connie: Our Colonix Program alone contains close to 50 high quality herbal ingredients. You are not buying a single-ingredient product. For example, some products contain only maltodextrin or magnesium oxide, both of which can be bought for about a dollar when they’re not sold or dubbed as a ”colon cleanser”.

CDW: Why does DrNatura not offer Free Trials?

Connie: Our high-quality, premium raw materials are costly to start with. All our products are made here in the US. We have close to 100 American workers involved in manufacturing our products, providing dedicated customer service, and in packaging and shipping our products. Naturally, they all earn a salary. Our products therefore cannot be free.
We are lucky because most people searching for colon cleansing on the Internet are already searching for the Colonix branded product because the program is so popular and effective. We don’t have to use misleading tactics to try to gain customers. We don’t have to put unauthorized celebrity endorsements or testimonials on our website. We have endorsements from medical professionals, but even more importantly from customers who use our products daily. In fact, we have over 2,000 customer testimonials on our DrNatura.com website!

CDW: Yes, I’ve seen that on your site and I find it incredible because I’ve never seen so many testimonials on any website before. Are those really all from actual customers?

Connie: Most certainly! All the testimonials are verified and documented. DrNatura.com has not only the most satisfied customers in the colon cleansing industry but possibly more testimonials than any other company on the Internet. These testimonials speak for themselves and to the effectiveness of our products.

CDW: Do you offer a money back guarantee?

Connie: Of course! DrNatura is proud to offer a 60-day money back guarantee on all of its products. No questions asked! We also have a strict privacy policy and would never sell our customers’ information. Our toll-free number is answered from 8am to 10pm Eastern Time seven days a week by real people. You see, we want our customers to find us easily.

You can get more information about DrNatura by visiting www.drnatura.com.

DrNatura® and Colonix® are registered trademarks of Alaven Consumer Healthcare, Inc. Alaven Consumer Healthcare, Inc. does not use unauthorized endorsements, whether from news groups, celebrities, or otherwise. Neither Alaven Consumer Healthcare, Inc., nor its goods or services, nor its views and opinions expressed herein, are endorsed, sponsored or in any way affiliated with the celebrities or news group entities depicted on this website.