Infomercial pitchman found in contempt for misleading TV ads

[AngryAmish]

Source: ChiTrib

Infomercial pitchman Kevin Trudeau has been found in contempt of a federal court order barring him from using misleading TV spots to sell his popular books.

U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman in Chicago agreed with the Federal Trade Commission that Trudeau was deceptive in infomercials for his current best-seller, "The Weight Loss Cure 'They' Don't Want You to Know About." In infomercials for the book, Trudeau described his diet plan to a mock interviewer as "the easiest method known on planet Earth."

Follow the diet, Trudeau contended, and you can eat anything you want.




The problem, Gettleman found, was that the diet described in the book was anything but easy. That puts Trudeau in violation of the order prohibiting him from misrepresenting the contents of such publications in infomercials, the judge held.


Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-trudeau_20nov20,0,7806881.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout

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This guy is a crook.

What I find fascinating is the weird anger he uses to sell his books. He says he can't talk about things because someone, US government, pharmacutical companies, whoever, prevent him from doing so. What he does sell is a bunch of psuedo-scientific nonsense. Yet he makes millions.

[Connie_Corleone]

1. He was locked up once before. I hope he gets locked up again.

This crook didn't lose weight with that complicated diet he's pimping. He lost weight on the Atkins diet a few years ago.

Every few years, this idiot comes out with some money-making scheme. And people fall for it.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. If you want to safely lose weight

find an MD who knows about weight loss programs. Take tests to find out if you have medical conditions that may contribute to obesity (such as hypothyroidism) and take care of them. Make sure you know if you are allergic to things like milk, gluten, or plants of the nightshade family. During your diet, have your glucose and cholesterol monitored.

If you have the right doc who does these things, that doc will put you on a livable diet that is unique to you--and one you can stay on the rest of your life. Don't rely on someone's book. One diet does not fit all.

[Botany]

3. But what about the sea coral supplements I just bought?

:rofl:

The man is a "peach"

Criminal history and legal proceedings

1990-1991: Larceny and credit card fraud
In 1990, Trudeau posed as a doctor in order to deposit $80,000 in false checks, and in 1991 he pled guilty to larceny. Trudeau had used the credit cards of eleven customers of the mega memory product to fraudulently charge approximately $122,735.68.<11> He spent two years in federal prison because of this conviction (Choi, 2005). Later, in his book Natural Cures, Trudeau claimed that he has since learned from his experience, and is now motivated to help people rather than merely to make money for himself.<7>
1996: SEC and various states
Trudeau began working for Nutrition For Life, a multi-level marketing program in the mid-90s. However, in 1996, his recruitment practices were cited by the states of Illinois and Michigan, as well as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Illinois sued Trudeau and Jules Leib, who was his partner, accusing them of operating an illegal pyramid scheme. They settled with Illinois and seven other states for $185,000 after agreeing to change their tactics. Michigan forbade him from operating in the state.<7><8><9><10> A class action lawsuit was filed by stockholders of Nutrition for Life for violations of Texas law including misrepresenting and/or omitting material information about NFLI's business. In August 1997, the company paid $2 million in cash to common stockholders and holders of warrants during the class period to settle the case. The company also paid the plaintiffs attorney fees of $600,000 <12>
1998: FTC fine
In 1998, Trudeau was fined $500,000 to be used for consumer redress by the FTC, relating to six infomercials he had produced and in which the FTC determined he had made false or misleading claims. These infomercials included "Hair Farming", "Mega Memory System," "Addiction Breaking System," "Action Reading," "Eden's Secret," and "Mega Reading."<13><14> The products included a "hair farming system" that was supposed to "finally end baldness in the human race," and "a breakthrough that in 60 seconds can eliminate" addictions, discovered when a certain "Dr. Callahan" was "studying quantum physics." <7><15>

[anokaflash]

5. Seperated at Birth

This guy could be a gold mine if the GOoPers nominate MN Gov Tim for Veep. Talk about separated at birth.

[depakid]

4. It high time, too

Frankly, I wish that liability would extend to the media corporation who profit by putting this charlatan (and others like him) on the air.

[Dr. Strange]

6. This is disturbing.

But the emails promising penis enlargement are still true, right?

[Hugin]

7. Great! So, when's the FTC going after Fox News?

I can hardly wait! :bounce:

[Historic NY]

8. You lose weight on Kevin's plan..............

he lightens your wallet.........:rofl:

I am amazed that guys like him and the rich & famous holy roller charletons, fleece so much from people. People want to believe in miracle diet plans. They want buy a path to heaven, from self annointed.
They might better believe in themselves first. They could save themselves a lot of money and grief.

[L0oniX]

9. it gets into the matting and the padding ...ooops wrong dude

[Buns_of_Fire]

10. Hang 'em BOTH up on Hercules Hooks!

:evilgrin:

[Stewie]

11. Don't go dragging Billy Mays into this!

:)

[paulk]

12. it's about bleepin' time

it's amazing this guy has been able to get away with this for so long....

[Chovexani]

13. I saw a guy reading that Natural Cures book on the plane last week

I proceeded to tell him what a fraud and charlatan the guy was and pointed him to some debunking sites.

To his credit, he thanked me and seemed genuinely grateful. So many well-meaning and otherwise intelligent people buy into this crap that it's kind of sad.