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An administrator working for the Federal Trade Commission is mailing 196,969 checks averaging $47.51 each to consumers who purchased an abdominal exercise device known as the Ab Circle Pro.

In August 2012, the FTC settled with Ab Circle Pro marketers Fitness Brands, four individuals, and seven other companies, after alleging that the defendants had deceptively advertised that exercising on the device for just three minutes a day would cause consumers to lose 10 pounds in two weeks.

The checks, which total $9.3 million, must be cashed within 60 days after they are issued. The deadline for filing a refund request has expired. Consumers who have questions should call 1-866-402-4752.  For general refund information, see www.FTC.gov/refunds. The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information before redress checks can be cashed. 

Consumers should carefully evaluate advertising claims for exercise equipment. For more information see: Tips for Buying Exercise Equipment.

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.