Markets Wired

The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 153,109 checks for $40.45 each to consumers who were deceived by supplement marketers National Urological Group and Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals. A federal district court ruled in favor of the FTC in 2008, ordering the defendants to provide money for refunds.

The marketer made false advertising claims that two supposed weight-loss supplements, Thermalean and Lipodrene, were clinically proven to cause substantial weight loss, including a 19 percent loss in total body weight.

A third supplement, Spontane-ES, supposedly treated erectile dysfunction. The ads deceptively claimed that the supplement was clinically proven to safely and effectively treat 90 percent of men with erectile dysfunction.

The checks, totaling over $6 million, will be mailed by an administrator working for the FTC. Consumers who have questions about the refund process should call toll free, at 1-877-483-2883, or visit the FTC’s refunds website. The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information before redress checks can be cashed.

The checks will be valid for 60 days and must be cashed on or before October 23, 2012.

Consumers should carefully evaluate advertising claims for vitamins and other dietary supplements. For more information see: Who Cares:  Dietary Supplements.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.  Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.

(FTC File No. X050009)