VitalAcai

## Description

**VitalAcai** also known as **Acai Berry Boom** and **Acai Power Slim** and **Power Slim** and **Quick Slim** and **Acai Pure** and **Atami Slim** is another scam. Site registrations occur on a registrar in the People's Republic of China, and the web sites ares hosted in such places as Romania and Beijing. Though Acai Berries are a genuine product, the mass spamming for VitalAcai or Acai Power Slim together with the locations of registrations and hosting sites, bear all the traditional indications of a scam. The misleading false pretenses on the sites indicate that the consumer should not expose their identity or credit card details on these non-secure web sites.

## False Pretenses

### Secure site

One exception, however, is the web site vitalacaisupreme.com, which does use secure https support, with a security certificate. This site also differs from the other sites. It has a different copyright statement (**© Supreme Brands, LLC 2008 All Rights Reserved.**) versus the fake sites (**© Vital Acai, 2008 All Rights Reserved**)

Another telling difference is shown in the handling charges of the free sample. At the genuine site is is $4.95, but at the fake sites it had rocketed up to $19.95. Subsequently, the fake sites also offered the initial trial at $5.95 US/Canada, $19.95 outside US/Canada.

### Oprah Winfrey endorsement

The claim that Acai Berries have been endorsed by Oprah Winfrey has been denied, and legal proceedings have been initiated against these scammers.

*Harpo, Inc., producers of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “The Dr. Oz Show,” along with Dr. Mehmet Oz, filed a trademark infringement complaint today against 40 Internet marketers of dietary supplements, including acai berry products among others. The Attorney General’s office and representatives from Chicago-based Harpo, Inc., coordinated an investigation of consumer complaints – many provided to the Attorney General's office by Harpo – revealing the deceptive practices of these companies. Neither Ms. Winfrey nor Dr. Oz has ever sponsored or endorsed any acai berry or dietary supplement product.*
*Reference:* Illinois Attorney General

Pursuant to this litigation, the image above has been removed on some sites, but only from the front page. It occurs elsewhere on the site. The audio that plays on the front page - from activity.livefaceonweb.com - still states that "*everyone from talk show hosts to Hollywood celebrities have already discovered and enjoyed the incredible powers of the Acai berry . . .* "

### Dr. Perricone endorsement

Quick Slim and Atami Slim sites, such as www.quickslimmers.com

At his web site (www.dailyperricone.com) we find that Dr Perricone does not endorse other Acai Berry products.

Quoting from his site:

*Today, the Connecticut attorney general will issue a warning about ubiquitous advertisements to purchase Acai supplements. Please note that while you might have seen his face and name associated with these ads, Dr. Perricone does not and has never endorsed ANY ACAI PRODUCT outside of our Perricone MD product, Super Berry Powder With Acai. These ads use Dr. Perricone’s name and image (as well as Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz) without his permission.*

*As is well-documented, Dr. Perricone is an advocate of the Acai berry and its multitude of health benefits, but he can not vouch for the quality, purity, and efficacy of any other product without extensive research into the formulations of these products.*

Despite this clear statement, the perpetrators of the Acai Berry fraud still continue to use his image and supposed endorsement of their product. This is an obvious fraud.

For more details on the Connecticut attorney general’s actions, please read this article

## Missing contact details

```
You may cancel your membership or modify the frequency of your shipments at any
time by calling us at . Please remember, most customers see most noticeable
results by using Acai Power Berry consistently for 3 months or more.

```

The contact phone number has been removed, so that you can not cancel your free trial offer. You will be billed every month with no option to opt out:

```
 Option Clause

I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CONSUMER TRANSACTION INVOLVES A NEGATIVE OPTION, AND THAT
I MAY BE LIABLE FOR PAYMENT OF FUTURE GOODS AND SERVICES UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS
AGREEMENT FOR $74.99 PER MONTH PLUS SHIPPING AND HANDLING (PLUS 6% SALES TAX IN FL),
IF I FAIL TO NOTIFY THE SUPPLIER NOT TO SUPPLY THE GOODS OR SERVICES DESCRIBED.

```

The "Contact Us" page also has a road block. You can enter a message, but you can not send it without first keying in the "Verify Code". However, the Verify Code is not displayed, making communication impossible.

This is a deliberate fraud in breach of fair trade, and should be reported to the FTC.

Note that the same fraud is perpetrated in related scams, such as Pure Magnum XL and Colo Cleanse Plus.

## Consumer warning

From http://www.slimmingpillsreview.com/vitalacai/

*Vitalacai Purchases*

*Like most weight loss supplements Vitalacai also offers a free trial. Of course, similar to other diet supplement we have reviewed there is a hidden autoships with full-price payments (no membership discount). As with many other products, the free trial is for 15 days. If nothing is done on the end of the buyer, they are charged a full price of $78.91 for the bottle and one bottle every month after that at the same cost.*

## Fake Registrants

Registrant names sometimes make no attempt at obscuring fake identities. Two examples illustrate the problem:

**1. pintpins.com**

This registration was accepted by registrar XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

```
Administrative Contact:
 Name           : fghfsdttre
 Organization   : dsfgfgh
 Address        : sdgfsd
 City           : Hengshui
 Province/State : Hebei
 Country        : CN
 Postal Code    : 1332546
 Phone Number   : 86--02152829422
 Fax            : 86--02152829422
 Email          : web@58ym.com

```

**2. pintpart.com**

This registration was also accepted by registrar XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

```
Administrative Contact:
 Name           : ghdfgert
 Organization   : fghrty
 Address        : sfgdsfdt
 City           : Baotou
 Province/State : Neimongguziqu
 Country        : CN
 Postal Code    : 212546
 Phone Number   : 86--02152829422
 Fax            : 86--02152829422
 Email          : web@58ym.com

```

Note how the names and postal codes were generated by randomly pressing adjacent keys on the keyboard.

## Samples of the spam

```
Subject: Claim Your FREESample

This product is, hands down, the best acai berry product that we have tested

GetYours [links to ideadark.com]

```

```
Subject: Free trial Acai burn

Our first taste of Acai energized not only our bodies but stimulated our mind. We would like to
share that with you by offering you our free trial of Acaidiet which will lead to sustainable
healthy clear cut weight loss

A prompt quick
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/qdqucyhuud

```

The page at groups.yahoo.com/group/qdqucyhuud is an advertisement for "Acai Berry" at which links to "Acai Power Slim" at fullaboard.com.

## History

**VitalAcai** appeared in spam traps in December 2008, after Acai Berries were the subject of a segment on the Oprah Winfrey US TV show, in relation to weight reduction.

**Acai Berry Boom** was seen in January 2009. It can be shown to be the same site by clicking on the FAQ link. The page title reverts back to *Vital Acai - Frequently Asked Questions*

```

```

## Related Spams

### Same IP Address

The same IP address, 94.176.96.3, is host to these other spam brands:

* Pure Magnum XL (nicearrange.com, niceargue.com)
* Prestige Replicas (shophave.com, mustbig.com, wearpeer.com, .com)
* Power Gain (daypeer.com, makewear.com)
* VitalAcai (cheap-weightloss.com, cekezxig.com, gocurful.com, ideadark.com, ideahuge.com)
* Acai Berry Boom (makemusts.com makepool.com )

### Same Name Servers

**NS1.UTRIMERSIM.COM, NS2.UTRIMERSIM.COM**

```
nicearrange.com         Pure Magnum XL     35 TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
niceargue.com	        Pure Magnum XL     35 TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD

niceannounce.com	Acai Power Slim    CHINA SPRINGBOARD INC.
bestlightonline.com	Acai Power Slim    CHINA SPRINGBOARD INC.
slimfitargument.com	Acai Power Slim    CHINA SPRINGBOARD INC.
easyalong.com	        Acai Power Slim    CHINA SPRINGBOARD INC.

```

**ns1.adallso.com, ns2.adallso.com**

```
cekezxig.com	Vital Acai	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
ideahuge.com	Vital Acai	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
ideanot.com	Vital Acai 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
ideadark.com	Vital Acai 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

```

```
gocurful.com	Vital Acai  	35 TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD

```

```
wiliwpuj.com	POWER Gain+	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
calldark.com	POWER Gain+	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

```

```
hopewade.com	Prestige Replicas 	BIZCN.COM, INC.
helpwade.com	Prestige Replicas 	BIZCN.COM, INC.
workhope.com	Prestige Replicas 	BIZCN.COM, INC.

```

```
namedark.com	Prestige Replicas 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
namehuge.com	Prestige Replicas 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
nothuge.com	Prestige Replicas 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
hugedune.com	Prestige Replicas 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
namedune.com	Prestige Replicas 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
realdune.com	Prestige Replicas 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
downhope.com	Prestige Replicas 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
realshere.com	Prestige Replicas 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
workwade.com	Prestige Replicas 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
hopepeer.com	Prestige Replicas 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
hugeheres.com	Prestige Replicas 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
helppicks.com	Prestige Replicas 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
hopewait.com	Prestige Replicas 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
namenot.com	Prestige Replicas 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
realnot.com	Prestige Replicas 	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

```

```
vedajzoz.com	V.E.P. Virility Enlarge Patch	XIN NET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

```

## How to Report this Spam

The most effective way to demand that registrars cancel their illegal contracts with criminals is to use the tool provided for Windows users at Complainterator. Add a link to this page as evidence.

## Sponsor Organizations

From October 2011

quickslims.com

```
Domain Name: QUICKSLIMS.COM
Registrar: **CENTER OF UKRAINIAN INTERNET NAMES**
Name Servers: NS1.SIXSIX6.RU NS2.SIXSIX6.RU (registrar: NAUNET-REG-RIPN)

Status: ok
Updated Date: 09-sep-2011
Creation Date: 09-sep-2011

Registrant:
Svetlana Poltavceva poltavtzeva.svetlana@yandex.ru
ul. Leninskaya 17 43
Yubileynyy, 141090
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
+7.4956548754

```

Name servers ns1.sixsix6.ru & ns2.sixsix6.ru are on IP 31.192.109.151 and quickslims.com has address 31.192.109.219 in Russia, ASN = NCONNECT-AS Navitel Rusconnect Ltd - complain to: abuse@hostkey.com

A typical site registration from December 2008 is shown here

```
Domain Name: GOCURFUL.COM
Registrar: 35 TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
Name Server: NS1.ADALLSO.COM
Name Server: NS2.ADALLSO.COM
Status: ok
Updated Date: 11-dec-2008
Creation Date: 11-dec-2008

```

```
Registrant:
        ZIJIANG mao_reg@sina.com +86.075582282075
        ZIJIANG
        JIANZHELU489
        SZ,GD,CN 703657

```

The name server domain that ensures access to this criminal site is registered with another registrar in the People's Republic of Chine:

```
 Domain Name: ADALLSO.COM
 Registrar: HICHINA ZHICHENG TECHNOLOGY LTD.
 Name Server: NS1.ADALLSO.COM
 Name Server: NS2.ADALLSO.COM
 Status: ok
 Updated Date: 28-nov-2008
 Creation Date: 28-nov-2008

```

```
Registrant ID ................... hc801541203-cn
Registrant Name ................. WEIXIN CAO
Registrant Organization ......... CAOWEIXIN
Registrant Address .............. GUANGHEBEILU15
Registrant City ................. SH
Registrant Province/State ....... SH
Registrant Postal Code .......... 200436
Registrant Country Code ......... CN
Registrant Phone Number ......... +86.02126692755
Registrant Fax .................. +86.02126692755
Registrant Email ................ caoweixing@sina.com

```

At the time of writing, (17 December 2008) the web site was running on IP address 94.176.96.3 in Romania
inetnum: 94.176.96.0 - 94.176.96.255
netname: SC-PROMOART-SRL
descr: SC PromoArt SRL
descr: Aurel Vlaicu 55B camera 3
descr: Suceava Suceava 720092
country: ro

The abuse complaint address for this IP is

```
role:           PromoArt NOC
address:        Aurel Vlaicu nr. 55B camera 3
address:        Suceava Suceava 720092
phone:          +40330 100 333
fax-no:         +40330 100 334
e-mail:         abuse@draculahosting.com

```

## Further reading

* Madigan files lawsuits against Acai Berry companies, *August 19, 2009*
* I Kill Spammers blog coverage, *August 28, 2009*
* Oprah Winfrey denies endorsing Acai products, Oprah Winfrey web site
* Winfrey's Harpo files suit against dietary supplement firms, Chicago Tribune, *August 19, 2009*
* ABC News warning about Acai Berry Online offers