Markets Wired

The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 191,748 refund checks totaling $9,190,842.68 to consumers who bought Pure Health or Genesis Today green coffee bean extract weight-loss supplements. Consumers who purchased the products online will receive a full refund, with the average check totaling $47.93.

Consumers who bought the supplements in a retail store such as Walmart did not receive a check in this mailing. These consumers can file a claim form with the FTC, and may be eligible for a partial refund.

Analytics, the redress administrator for this matter, will begin mailing refund checks to online purchasers today. The checks must be cashed within 60 days or they will become void. Recipients should note that the FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information before redress checks can be cashed. If you have questions, please call 1-844-449-3586.

The FTC’s January 2015 complaint charged Pure Health LLC, Genesis Today, Inc., and their principal, Lindsey Duncan, with deceptively claiming that the supplement would cause consumers to lose 17 pounds and 16 percent of their body fat in just 12 weeks without diet or exercise, and that the claim was backed up by a clinical study.

Duncan promoted the supplements on The Dr. Oz Show, The View, and other television programs. The FTC’s settlement barred the defendants from making deceptive weight-loss claims for any dietary supplement, food, or drug, and from making unsubstantiated claims about the health benefits or efficacy of any dietary supplement or drug product. The defendants paid redress for the consumer refunds announced today.

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.