August 16, 2010CHICAGO (AP) -- The Federal Trade Commission says an Arizona company defrauded consumers who signed up for free trials of acai (ah-sah-EE') berry weight-loss pills and colon cleansing supplements.
The agency said Monday in Chicago that it filed a lawsuit against Phoenix-based Central Coast Nutraceuticals.
The FTC says the company charged consumers for shipments they didn't want and charged them restocking fees if they tried to cancel. It says the company marketed the pills using fake endorsements from Oprah Winfrey and celebrity chef Rachael Ray.
The agency says the pills do not work for weight loss or to prevent cancer, as the company claims.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court Aug. 5. Phone and e-mail messages left for the company were not immediately returned.
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