I heard on the radio about a new diet study that was being done. I know Sanofi-Avnetis is introducing a new diet pill this summer, so I was wondering if this was a study related to the pill. I am interested in losing some weight, so I thought this might be a good opportunity. I went to the website (www.dietstudy.com) where they advertised you could win $10,000 to participate in the study. It asked some qualifying information and then gave a phone number to call once you qualified.
The person on the phone was very knowledgeable about the diet plan. It was called "the every other day diet" or something like that. It included some products which sounded like fiber wafers. She said there are different types of studies and that this was not a clinical study, but rather a consumer study and their purpose is to gather data on the success so that they can launch a nationwide advertising campaign.
In the end, she wanted a $250 deposit which she said would be refunded at the end of the 90 days as well as $10000 for participating in the study. She said the deposit was to insure against people not really interested in doing the study, just wanting to win the money.
At this point I asked if she could send me the info on the study so that I could see in writing the guarantee of the return of deposit and without missing a beat she said that this was an implied contract (implying that I was some kind of idiot for not knowing this) and that they were governed and monitored by the FCC and FTC. She said they have far too many inquiries to give out written information. She said I was covered by my credit card company against fraud. I know that when I changed phone companies, they required a third party to confirm my participation in the change, so I asked if she had a third party verifier. She said no, but she could get a manager to speak to me.
In the end, I passed on what she said was the opportunity of a lifetime, but man if this was a scam, they went through an incredible amount of time and money to set up the website and phone center and advertise on the radio to make a buck. If it is a scam, I am so angry that they would play on the emotions of overweight people and their desire to lose weight to gain a buck. If they put that much energy in a real job, they'd make money.
The person on the phone was very knowledgeable about the diet plan. It was called "the every other day diet" or something like that. It included some products which sounded like fiber wafers. She said there are different types of studies and that this was not a clinical study, but rather a consumer study and their purpose is to gather data on the success so that they can launch a nationwide advertising campaign.
In the end, she wanted a $250 deposit which she said would be refunded at the end of the 90 days as well as $10000 for participating in the study. She said the deposit was to insure against people not really interested in doing the study, just wanting to win the money.
At this point I asked if she could send me the info on the study so that I could see in writing the guarantee of the return of deposit and without missing a beat she said that this was an implied contract (implying that I was some kind of idiot for not knowing this) and that they were governed and monitored by the FCC and FTC. She said they have far too many inquiries to give out written information. She said I was covered by my credit card company against fraud. I know that when I changed phone companies, they required a third party to confirm my participation in the change, so I asked if she had a third party verifier. She said no, but she could get a manager to speak to me.In the end, I passed on what she said was the opportunity of a lifetime, but man if this was a scam, they went through an incredible amount of time and money to set up the website and phone center and advertise on the radio to make a buck. If it is a scam, I am so angry that they would play on the emotions of overweight people and their desire to lose weight to gain a buck. If they put that much energy in a real job, they'd make money.
They do play on your emotions.
