Markets Wired

The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 22,581 refund checks totaling more than $470,000 to consumers nationwide who bought two deceptively marketed health products—TrueAloe and AloeCran, from a company called NatureCity, LLC.

According to the FTC’s October 2019 complaint, the Florida company deceived consumers with claims that TrueAloe and AloeCran were effective treatments for a range of conditions affecting seniors, including chronic pain, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, and acid reflux. The FTC alleged that the defendants’ claims were deceptive and not supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence.

The court order resolving the complaint bars the defendants from making false and unsubstantiated health claims and requires them to pay $537,500, which is being used to provide refunds to defrauded consumers. The order also requires the defendants to disclose any material connection they have with compensated reviewers.

JND Legal Administration, the refund administrator in this case, will begin mailing checks today. Consumers who receive a refund check should cash or deposit it within 60 days, as indicated on the check. The average amount of each check is $20.83.

Consumers who have questions about this refund program should contact JND Legal Administration at 1-877-545-0233. The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information to cash refund checks.

The FTC’s new interactive dashboards for refund data provide a state-by-state breakdown of these refunds, as well as refund programs from other FTC cases. In 2019, FTC actions led to more than $232 million in refunds to consumers across the country.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.