Stuff that occurs to me

All of my 'how to' posts are tagged here. The most popular posts are about blocking and private accounts on Twitter, also the science communication jobs list. None of the science or medical information I might post to this blog should be taken as medical advice (I'm not medically trained).

Think of this blog as a sort of nursery for my half-baked ideas hence 'stuff that occurs to me'.

Contact: @JoBrodie Email: jo DOT brodie AT gmail DOT com

Science in London: The 2018/19 scientific society talks in London blog post

Saturday 14 January 2012

Phen375 weight loss pills "reviewed"

by @JoBrodie, brodiesnotes.blogspot.com
 

(A) What to do if you have bought similar weight-loss products
(B) Blog post about strategies used in advertising various pills and supplements online

(A) What to do if you have bought similar weight-loss products
1. Try and get your money back
If you bought Phen375 (or any other item) with a debit or credit card then you may be able to get your money back, have a look at the information on Section 75 and Chargeback at Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert page on Visa, Mastercard & Amex Chargeback: protection for debit card purchases.

2a. Report it to Action Fraud
If you have lost money in buying unevidenced weight loss pills you can report this to Action Fraud, who have this to say on Miracle Health Scams:
"Miracle health scams can include fake ‘miracle’ cures and weight loss products as well as bogus online pharmacies.

It is unlikely that such products have been properly tested or that there is any proof that they are medically effective. Some of these products may even be harmful.

Advertising for miracle health cures often include fake testimonials from apparently satisfied customers, have unproven claims about the product’s effectiveness, make false claims about clinical tests and have worthless ‘money back’ guarantees."
2b. Report it to the Advertising Standards Authority
How to complain - http://asa.org.uk/Consumers/How-to-complain.aspx

Have a look at what the Committee of Advertising Practice (who produce the guidelines that the ASA uses to determine if marketing material on websites or leaflets is OK) has to say about various types of weight loss advertising too.




(B) Blog post about strategies used in advertising various pills and supplements online

There are a quite a few websites that advertise Phen375 fat burning slimming pills. There are probably quite a few more of the websites that don't. At least not as obviously. Instead those websites review diet and weight loss pills, or tell you 'the truth' about them. Or at least they imply that they do.

If someone has just heard about some new weight loss pills they might not be quite convinced that the pills are the real deal so, when looking on Google, they might be tempted to add words like 'scam' or 'fake' to their search keywords to find wesites that are critical (and perhaps they'll be reassured by not finding any).

However anyone searching for these terms is still likely to be taken to review sites which will help visitors to buy the product.

I can't remember when I first noticed the rather clever use, by pill sellers, of words like scam in blogs (subtly embedded in the text or address) to bring in the punters - it's what people are searching for after all. Genius ;) It also presumably swamps any legitimate sites that are providing genuine information about complaints, forcing them off the front page of Google results.

Phen375 seems to be a popular weight loss pill which is sold, along with tens of others, by the MoreNiche affiliate people. I'm not aware of any good quality evidence (patient testimonials just don't count I'm afraid) that can show if the product is safe or effective.

The briefest of Google searches found a selection of sites, many of which contain the words 'scam' or 'fake' in the website itself or its web address. All the websites in the list below contain a code that ensures that any sale made (when visitors click through to the selling site) will pay a dividend to an affiliate from MoreNiche. Commission varies but might be around 30 per cent.

In all cases remove D3L3TE to make the URL work

Some MoreNiche tracked sites for Phen375; they all point to http://phenD3L3TE375.com/ (1)
  • http://bestfatburnD3L3TEerguide.com/phen375-reviews
  • http://buyphen3D3L3TE75.co.uk/
  • http://buyphentermine375hD3L3TEq.com/phen375/phen375-fake/ (2)
  • http://dietpillD3L3TEsbest.net/diet-pills-best-phen375
  • http://www.healthD3L3TEcaffe.com/phen375-reviews/
  • http://phen375reD3L3TEviewed.net/
  • http://phD3L3TEen375scam.blog.com/ (3)
  • http://pheD3L3TEn375scam.info/
  • http://phenD3L3TE375truth.com/
As far as I can tell there are probably hundreds (thousands?) of these affiliate sites and I assume one affiliate might have more than one site.

(1) ...that website doesn't have a particularly good rating on http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/phen375.com (nothing to do with me, I've not actually rated any MoreNiche merchant or affiliate sites but many of the ones I've come across have already been downvoted). Commenters (actually they do cross a line I think, rather racist) on Complaintwire aren't too happy with the company either.

(2) Most affiliate sites seem to hide or obscure the tracking code (it doesn't always show up in the page's source code but I might be missing something) but the website listed at (2) points to a TinyURL address and, if you've got preview switched on, you can see that it's clearly redirecting to  http://track.moreD3L3TEniche.com/hit.php?w=137484&s=157 which then redirects to the Phen375 website.

(3) The link in this one is http://track.moreD3L3TEniche.com/hit.php?w=149938&s=157

Noticing the s=157 (I presume this is a MoreNiche code for the product) I wondered if I could find any more. I may be quite wrong about some of these, they may not actually be the code for a product (they might just be found on the same website as the product's name).

s=24 appears to be Size Genetics (some sort of 'male enhancement')
s=156 might be Acai berry
s=157 is presumably Phen375
s=174 might be Tava Tea
s=178 might be Capsiplex

Searching for a few of these also brings up a lot of links to spam-tracking websites.

Goodness knows what phentemine actually is though. The main selling website spells it that way and also references phenteRmine which is definitely not recommended for weight loss according to the British National Formulary (BNF, the guidance that doctors and nurses use when prescribing legal medicines) as it has interactions with all sorts of other prescription medications and shouldn't be used by a whole bunch of poeple with various other conditions. If someone's going to buy unlicensed pills on the internet these aren't the ones I'd be recommending.

However according to the company's website the product doesn't contain phentermine at all - there's a list of ingredients and we're told what each does but (again, typically) no evidence is provided that the pills actually achieve any of this miraculous weight loss. There's reference to 'sympathomimetic amine' which is also named as norepinephrine (noradrenaline). Assuming this survives digestion that would presumably increase the heart rate... doesn't sound that much fun.

Yesterday I actually received email spam from someone selling Phen375. Unusually for spam this pleased me (I've been drafting this post on and off in spare moments for a couple of days so this is a nice finish for the post) and I've included a screenshot of it at the end. I think this might be the tracking code, but it's difficult to tell really, as I say they seem to be hidden and you have to 'triangulate' them a bit http://track.morenicD3L3TEhe.com/hit.php?w=227379&s=157

Unless I'm mistaken this affiliate code w=227379 also appears to be involved in selling something called IntiVar Renewal gel... the green and red circles to the right of the green tick relate to the Web of Trust rating system which I have installed on Chrome:











































Edit: 3 April 2013

Rose Silk has left a couple of comments (too long to fit once I'd annotated them) that are peppered with active links (redacted) to various websites that seem to be selling a rival product to do with ketones. The intention behind this is to gather up Google brownie points by having other sites linking to their sites. Because I have redacted them that doesn't happen.

Here's the first.

"Raspberries acquire treatments make-up policy from a specifically items present and further improve the very quickly

deficiency ofofficial website bodyweight by using random advantages. experts clearly allows any particular one purchasers imagine that will this amazing asdoes raspberry ketones work you can think about by far the most amazing place for every eliminate your present get in touch with this amazing improves to help you people. Currently many men and some women, together with currently that may place considerably essential covers head out will probably be associated with bodyweight use reduce associated with scaled-down together with, make using does raspberry ketone really workwell-being. Because you shift the real functions best items assess carry out usually will probably be hard. Thus, a variety of us can quickly pun, the simplest way from the certain doing workouts, moreover to you will see there may be solution which have been the particular straightforward way to quick fat loss unbuttoned though even so progressively being experience padded.does the raspberry ketone work perform. Even so, despite the factor that we've been normally which might be dubious prepared keep on being devoted to your accurate course of action that may it goes without saying can be quite without drugs many, a while many men and some women does the raspberry ketone diet workexperience from the quick course of action. You additionally indisputably can quickly it goes without saying have a therapy offraspberry ketone dr ozering those that bodyweight use actually quickly undid his / her extend time together with, also, this amazing personal or even guy usually designed moreover to that will hoaxes. Other than progressively it is possible to break by using together with, as well as, to start with like activities, acquire factor results. Thus, so you can get allow interest to make available personal additional fat for you to problem the most beneficial confirm that will help people keep with your brand-new frequent solution.Raspberry Ketones are usually performed Discuss every better a new the dinner solution, which is to be seen to help minimize personal additional fat any particular one routine upon strength, dealing with considerably amazing fat-burning almost definitely. Malina may be Selma Authentic Lawn eco-friendly vegatables and fresh fruits and vegetables and veggies and fresh vegetables and fresh vegetables also treatments make using fat reduce, will come in the particular techniques of strength, meaning that your present choices comes about, plus a quickly will need. Additionally, circumstances can be quite every bare tangible floors base floors premade items reality : reality : reality : reality : blueberries usually allows you reduce the ineffective calorie consumption involved within with within due to your present epidermis."

The websites listed are (in call cases remove D3L3TE to get the correct URL:
1. http://doesraD3L3TEspberryketonework.blogspot.com/ - this appears to be web filler. It doesn't sell anything but contributes to the overall bulk of online information about the product, with relevant keywords. There seems to be only one article and it is very badly spun (google article spinning for more).
2. http://doraspberrykeD3L3TEtoneswork.blogspot.com/ - very similar to site above
3. http://howdoesrasD3L3TEpberryketonework.webs.com/ - appears to be more web filler
4. http://raspberrykeD3L3TEtonedoesitwork.webs.com/ - yet more web filler
5. http://whatdoraspberD3L3TEryketonesdo.webs.com/ - filler
6. http://www.raspberryketD3L3TEone.webs.com/ - aha. This is the one that links to the merchant's site and all the other five links are just padding to make it less obvious. Maria Wilson, the owner of the page, has the appropriate affiliate disclaimer badge on her site and clicking on any link on the page will take you to the 'Evolution Slimming' website http://www.evolution-sliD3L3TEmming.com/store/raspberry-ketone-advanced-cat_189.html, which is a MoreNiche merchant http://www.twD3L3TEistdirectory.com/directory/Health_and_Beauty/Weight_Loss/Slimming_Store/evolution_slimming_1479.html.

No evidence at all that it works of course...

50 comments:

  1. I have spent the last 3 hrs trying to find some real consumer comments about Phen375 - none are available! All are somehow sponsored by or linked to the manufacturers - what a scam!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well, yes ;) Despite the way in which the websites might present themselves (independent, review, 'the truth', 'don't buy it until you've read this' etc) they all seem to be just bridging pages to direct visitors to a sales page, from which the affiliate makes a commission.

    If you're feeling a bit nerdy...
    ********************************
    If you can spot the tracking link as it appears (it shows up briefly in the status bar for me as the different bits of the page load) then this confirms it - there may well be organisations other than MoreNiche promoting this product but I only know of the track.moreniche.com code.

    If you use Firefox then click Ctrl+Shift+K to bring up a tiny panel at the top of the webpage which shows you extra information about the page as it loads. First of all go to one of these bridging pages and then, just before you click on the 'buy' link (which will bring up the tracking code), use the Ctrl+Shift+K to open the window, then press 'buy' and watch. There's a high chance when you scroll back through the text that appears there that you'll see the track.moreniche.com phrase.

    If you see the phrase "-moz-opacity" then I think this means someone's tried to hide information about the page elements and tracking codes... which is itself instructive ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Andrew Bailey asks:

    "I've seen a few sights claiming that it is legal and that it also doesn't require a prescription. I'm just concerned that perhaps these sites are scams, so does anyone have some information about whether or not Phen375 is legal? I want to try these but I don't want to give my money to a scam or break the law. Thanks!"

    ReplyDelete
  4. The comment above sounds perfectly genuine but as it was linked to a phen375 review site, which was embedded in Andrew's name, it's actually (admittedly quite subtle) spam.

    Most spam comments are easy to spot because they're irrelevant and use poor English - sometimes they even include the link to the product in the comment but most sneak it into the name.

    This comment looks exactly like the sort of comment I'd post - it's relevant, asks a valid question and uses pretty good English. But a quick hover over any blue links to check made it clear that this is just a ruse to get a link on my site. I admire the sneakiness ;)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Willie Dodson writes "So, you have heard the buzz that is going on for Phen375 appetite suppressant! A lot of people are talking about this fat burning product but many are wondering too if it is really effective for reducing weight. There are RELIABLE REVIEWS ON PHEN375 weight loss supplements."

    But unfortunately I couldn't post this comment directly either as it links to a page promoting (via the MoreNiche tracking facility) the sale of these under-evidenced pills.

    For the relatively small number of hits my blog gets overall this post seems to get an awful lot of ambient Google traffic (from looking at the search keywords used) making it unexpectedly popular. Compared to other sites though I'm sure it's peanuts.

    The statement about "reliable reviews" is somewhat softened by the fairly clear disclaimer in pale grey at the bottom of the page that I'm not going to link to ;)

    "DISCLAIMER: THE STORY(s) DEPICTED ON THIS [redacted by me] HEALTH PRODUCT REVIEWS SITE AND THE PERSON(s) DEPICTED IN THE [redacted] SUCCESS STORY OR ANY OTHER [redacted] PRODUCT REVIEWS OR PRODUCTS PRESENTED ON THIS REVIEW SITE ARE NOT REAL. RATHER, THIS FICTIONAL STORY IS BASED ON THE RESULTS THAT SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE USED THESE PRODUCTS HAVE ACHIEVED. THE RESULTS PORTRAYED IN THE STORY AND IN THE COMMENTS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE, AND MAY NOT BE THE RESULTS THAT YOU ACHIEVE USING [redacted] OR WITH ANY OTHER PRODUCTS. THIS [redacted] REVIEW PAGE RECEIVES COMPENSATION FOR CLICKS ON OR PURCHASE OF PRODUCTS FEATURED ON THIS WHERE TO BUY [redacted] ONLINE AND ANY OTHER EFFECTIVE NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCT REVIEWS WEBSITE. *Results not typical - This [redacted] weight loss product review article makes no guarantee of results."

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dr Babatunde Omot Yusuf says

    "This post of yours really makes me to take a deep breath and I was just speechless. Well, I am an affiliate at [redacted] and also a medical student. I personally love to review products if I have the chance but according to all information I got. They must be true. I think. Well, that doesn't stop others from buying. But I want someone who wants to try it or had tried it to tell me how it goes...."

    I had to redact the website given in his comment as I don't really want to link to sites promoting this product.

    No-one has pointed me to any evidence that this product works as advertised - I can find lists of ingredients but nothing that shows how the combined ingredients (in the product formulation) have been tested. The official site for the product talks in terms of 3-5lbs weight lost per week - I'm fairly sure that UK sites aren't permitted by the Advertising Standards Authority to make such claims.

    Dr Yusuf - as you're a MoreNiche affiliate you need to add a disclaimer on your website explaining clearly that you receive payment for clickthroughs and sales, MoreNiche themselves ask their affiliates to do this after discussions with the Office of Fair Trading.

    Bit strange that you've let Willie Dodson leave a comment on your blog as he's promoting the product too so it seems you've just given him a free advert. I see you also include "phen 375 scam" in your post's tags ;) It brings a lot of people to my page too so I certainly recommend it.

    ReplyDelete
  7. A spammer writes
    "Finding a red hot niche is critical to the success of any online project. Get it right and you will make money. Get it wrong and your efforts will be wasted. Here's a step by step blueprint to finding a highly profitable niche and monetizing it."

    Link deleted.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Another spam anonymous commenter:
    "You made some really good points there. I checked on the internet for more information about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this site. my page [redacted]"

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wendy Thacker commented
    "There are tons of so-called "honest reviews" in the internet, which 90% of them are affiliated and fake. It's better to search for diet pills offline. Recommendations and feedbacks from friends are better too."

    Sadly I couldn't post her comment without editing it in this way because her name hyperlinked to a spam diet pill review site.

    I would add that it is not better to look for diet pills offline - only from a doctor (for a prescription) or a pharmacist (for advice on over the counter non-prescription weight loss pills).

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous writes (website included but not linked to)

    "You want to check out dietpillswatchdog [DOT] com - the biggest scam on the net right now when it comes to diet pills. This looks like a genuine WHICH type website which is in fact set up to promote moreniche diet pills. Total con! "

    ReplyDelete
  11. So it does...
    http://www.dietpillswatchdog [DOT] com/capsiplex-plus/

    (remove the [dot] and join the gaps if you want to visit the page.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Commenter sxsupp says "My best friend and I have tried alot (too many to count) of other diets and to no avail. If we lost we always gained it back. So we decided to try one more time using the Dr XYZ s 15 Day [redacted] Pills. We are both so excited. We would call each other every day and see how things were going as far as the eating habits!! In 4 weeks time I have lost 12lbs and she lost 10lbs. Super excited with the product because we can still eat and not feel like we were starving to death or eating stuff that we totally hated. The first 4 weeks we have done it with little to know exercise just to see if it would work. The next 4 weeks we are adding in exercise and see how that works for us!!!"

    OK but you know that I'm talking about a completely different product and also that anecdotes are of no use in finding out if this or any other product works?

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've been using Duromine for a while and came across this whole Phen375 thing today when I happened to be looking up some info on mgs dosages etc. There was a whole site dedicated to dorumine and buying it online . . .or so it seemed, it was all a set-up to get you to go to the Phen375 site. So i started looking it up and naturally all I could find where these 'testimonials' that are obvious fakes.

    Moreover they had people on youtube giving good reviews and then in the comments section there were sock accounts created for the sole purpose of leaving good comments. It is completely pathetic.

    It's not 'smart marketing' it is outright flooding the Internet with it to erase anything else that could or would be said. Like a glorified Nigerian email scam.

    To be honest nothing I have seen from the ingredients indicates this could or should work for weight loss. So I think anyone genuinely claiming it does is probably in denial after spending so much money.

    The few genuine people I could see saying anything on complaints websites were all negative.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Spammer known as 'Weight Loss Reviews' writes:

    "Hi,

    You make a good point about Phen375... I never thought of that. Now if any of you are struggling with Phen375, then i recommend you check out 31 Day Fat Loss Cure. There is a thorough on it here myweightlossreviewsite-DOT-blogspot-DOT-com . I hope that helps some of you here at myweightlossreviewsite-DOT-blogspot-DOT-com

    Thanks,"

    Yet the site given is just a blog 'wrapper' designed to route visitors to buy a different packet of pills, or ebooks. Don't bother.

    ReplyDelete
  15. A merchant left the following comment which I'm not publishing in full as it links to their affiliate page for phen375.

    I looked at the page (buyphen375reviews) and they didn't hide their tracking code, which is w=253458 and s=157 (I assume the 'w' bit refers to them and the 's' to the product but I have not confirmed this):

    "You may have heard about Phen375, the marvel solution to lose weight quickly. Find out where to and which is the greatest place to purchase phen375 and why you should buy it from there? Just visit [website redacted]"

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've tried phen 375 and its made not the slighest difference. Would love to find something which works. JVR

    ReplyDelete
  17. Stephan White comments "I agree with you that More Niche Advanced Health products are over hyped and some affiliates are economical with the facts...shame on them, but some of the blame for expecting miracles must lye with the potential purchaser."

    I think quite a few of the MN affiliates believe these products work as described. It's easy to blame the buyer (caveat emptor and all that) but this sector of the industry is pretty cynical in terms of marketing. I do wish people would check the websites of the Advertising Standards Authority though, as they often have examples of this sort of thing listed there.

    ReplyDelete
  18. The same merchant 'Phen375 reviews' / Siwaphong Kiattalerngrit (or someone working on their behalf) as above (January, w=253458) left this comment:

    "Phen375 merges a powerful appetite suppressant with fat burning components that make for a powerful one-two punch in your weight loss arsenal. It isn’t a miraculous pill, as it is still up to you to eat properly and do exercises, but it does make the job of losing weight drastically easier.
    Click here to get details."

    I've unlinked the 'Click here' but it points to [www].buyphen375reviews.com/ and the MoreNiche banner tracking link is banners.moreniche.com/go.php?id=22447&w=253458&s=157

    The site also includes Pros and Cons (I suspect the Cons are there to lend legitimacy to the idea that this is really a 'review') however the affiliate disclaimer seems to clarify that this is a business page.

    ReplyDelete
  19. WELL I HAVE BEEN USING PHEN375 AND I HAVE WENT FROM 166 POUNDS TO 120 POUNDS, ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS IT IS NOT A SCAM AND IT IS REAL AND IM JUST A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NOT AN ACTOR BUT I SEE JO AND THE OTHER PEOPLE ON HERE NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT AND MAYBE IF YOU GUYS PUT DOWN THE JUNK FOOD AND FAST FOOD MAYBE YOU GUYS WOULDNT BE SO MAD AND TRYING TO RUINE PHEN375 REPUTATION IT VERY WELL WORKS AND YOU CANT EXPECT TO LOSE WEIGHT BY SITTING ON YOUR ASS EATING WHATEVER YOU WANT GET OVER IT AND STOP IT BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT YOU GUYS SAY THERE STILL THE TOP SELLING DIET PILLS IN AMERCIA AND I LOVE THEM ALL OF YOU GUYS SOUND OVER WEIGHT AND ANGERY USE PHEN375 AND STAY TO A STRICK DIET AND ALL OF ALL WOULD BE HAPPY MAYBE EVEN GOING ON DATES AND HAVING A LIFE.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leaving on caps lock (ALL SHOUTY CAPITALS) makes it a bit difficult to read your comment unfortunately. No more caps locks comments please.

      As it happens I'm also trying to stop people from wasting their money on iridology - by your logic I've got bad eyesight and am secretly jealous of those with good eyes ;)

      No, I just don't like it when people sell a product but don't provide good quality evidence for its effectiveness. It does make me a bit annoyed, yes.

      Delete
  20. So pissed as i have already ordered phen375 wish I read this sooner :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous - it should be possible to get a refund.

      I haven't looked into this aspect of things, and trade regulations will depend on where you're located of course. If you paid by credit card you might be able to arrange a 'chargeback' which is where your credit card company recovers the money. According to Which? (a UK consumer magazine and website) it is used for "Chargeback can be used in cases of goods not arriving, arriving damaged, arriving not as described, or where the merchant has ceased trading." - however it may not be useful here as presumably the goods will arrive exactly as described http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/problem/how-do-i-use-chargeback/

      Beyond health claims, for which it's unclear if there's any good evidence at the moment, I don't think there were any dodgy promotions or free samples or anything like that. Although an entirely different company, different product and different claims but you might be interested in the Advertising Standards Authority's various reports on misleading advertising by people selling Raspberry Ketone products http://www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Non-compliant-online-advertisers.aspx (look for the two Slimzene entries on 5 April 2013) and also see this one http://www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2013/3/Beyond-Nutra-Ltd/SHP_ADJ_217447.aspx and look for the section marked 'Issue'.

      And of course there's always Trading Standards (or your country's local equivalent if you're not in the UK).

      Delete
    2. Note that you'll have to copy and paste those addresses into the address bar of a browser to see the pages I've mentioned, they won't work if you click on them.

      Delete
  21. I have taken real phentremine from a weight loss clinic that I was going to when I lived in CO. After taking one pill from that clinic, I noticed a difference in my appetite on the same day.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Katherine says "Started Phen375 today. I have taken 2 at 2 different times and I have seen a difference in my appetite from before I started taking them. The pictures of what the pills look like on www.phen375 DOT com isn't close to looking like what they sent me. They sent me brown pills with blue speckles that you can hardly see! Glad I only bought one bottle."

    I've posted the comment manually and amended the link.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's scary cause I bought them too and they were like horse pills! Same website 2 different pills?? What the heck is going on?

      Delete
    2. I don't know what's going on with the pills, or what's really in them but can I strongly recommend that people DO NOT BUY pills from the internet in general. There may be cases where it's a perfectly valid thing to do (I can't think of many) but weight loss pills are either fake or possibly dangerous. Anyone telling you otherwise is probably trying to sell you some (directly or indirectly).

      Delete
  23. Barbara Rosemond says "Hi, I've been trying to get rid of excess weight a number of days now but im puzzled where or how to begin. I've acquired weight as a result of currently being lazy and nearly all of my buddies tease me about this. I love to eat but i also want to be physically fit and healthy, I just wish to thank you for this publish. you just gave me ideas on the best way to begin my bodyweight reduction program.

    Barbara Rosemond
    Author of best weight loss supplements website"

    I've redacted the link which is - hold back your surprise - a website selling a weight loss product from RKD Holdings who are the people behind Adiphene.

    The MoreNiche affiliate ID, according to the banner link on the site, is either 29147 or 245389 and I assume the product's ID is 221. It's a tea-based product. Not a whit of evidence of efficacy or safety.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I think this commenter is hoping to use the information in my post to find scientific evidence for the product... I've not found any but I wish others all good luck in finding some. Seems odd to sell a product, with health claims, without already having that evidence though.

    "Another phases of testimonial evidence. I've joined moreniche.com affiliate today, and I placed the banner on my blog sidebar. Phen375 gave $10 for a website review. This post is the place for me to start searching more scientific evidences and not just another testimonial evidences. Keep on blogging this kind of posts! Best wishes, Verdi Indonesian Blogger"

    ReplyDelete
  25. Verdi also says:

    "I'm just trying to look for phen375 review examples, and not intended to use your opinions or what so ever in this blog post. I got my own reliable sources.

    Btw, I use a blogger profile, if you think it's a spam, you also should delete this post, and edit own your own. What a blogger you are??? "

    To which I say:

    Since I published this post in January 2012 I have received a couple of comments on it per week, this week I've received five so far and it's only Wednesday. Almost all of these are spam (so I delete them) and many from commenters with Blogger profiles so I'm afraid 'having a Blogger profile' doesn't prove that someone is or isn't a spammer. Obviously I have a Blogger profile too!

    Rather than close comments on this thread, as I have on other posts, I've chosen to present the comments this way. It's perfectly fine (my publishing space after all).

    As to the substance of your comment - I wish you well in finding information although I'm not quite sure what it is you're looking for from your own reliable sources. In your earlier comment you mentioned scientific evidence and not just testimonial evidence but in this post you also mention review examples. Reviews of a product, like testimonials, do not count as good quality evidence for the safety or effectiveness of that product. Though they can be useful information of course.

    ReplyDelete
  26. this product is a totally scam! don't buy it. it doesn't work and they will charge you more money on your credit card!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I recommend you investigate whether or not you can use the chargeback / charge back facility on your credit card, or get the credit card company to recover your money. For more information see the Money Saving Expert site http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/visa-mastercard-chargeback

      Obviously there's Trading Standards too, which you can easily access via Consumer Direct.

      In fact, I'll amend the top bit of this post as this topic is getting some serious hits from Google search. Which is surprising as it's a pretty old post. It gets at least one spam comment a day, usually more, though I (obviously) never publish them.

      Delete
  27. seriously, then what works coz i am exercising but lead a busy life so want an extra push to assist with the weight loss

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nothing magic - sensible eating, moving a bit more.

      If you're in the UK your doctor can refer you to a (registered) dietitian (watch out for nutritionists, anyone can call themselves one) who can give you advice on diet. There are pills your doctor can prescribe but that's usually after other things have been tried. Be very careful when buying pills over the internet. Apart from the fact that there's no good evidence that the ones mentioned here do what's claimed for them buying pills from the internet, in general, can result in pills containing all manner of unknown stuff, some of which might be harmful or might interfere with any other medication you're taking.

      Delete
  28. Alberto, whose comment I am manually adding because his name hyperlinked to a site selling something weight-loss-ish (sigh)... said

    "Thank you for this informative blog. A number of weight-loss pills are available at your local drugstore, supermarket or health food store. Even more options are available online. Most haven't been proved effective, and some may be downright dangerous"

    Since the text of his comment is fine it the actual words get through, however since it exists solely to promote his website his actual 'comment' doesn't.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Weight loss plans for men said: "I have no weight loss problems because I have used best diet plan and I also do regular exercise. Otherwise, your suggestions are also good and helpful for me."

    They left a link to a clinic in their name so I'm afraid I have had to post the comment manually to prevent my blog from being used to give traffic, or any Google 'esteem', to a site that I don't trust.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I bought some of these pulls and although I did lose weight quickly, I also hit the gym with a vengeance and was dieting like crazy - but I was still starving and the pills were supposed to make my appetite disappear. For sure they didn't, I was ravenous!

    ReplyDelete
  31. This is the only legit website I have found reviewing Phen375. Could someone please post more about personal experiences and whether this works at all?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, because I won't let them through. Personal testimony is interesting but doesn't tell us how well a particular pill works.

      Delete
  32. I've tightened up commenting (previously anyone could, hence lots of Anonymous comments across the blog), now registration is required.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Matt Danovan says "Thanks for sharing such a good information... [redacted]" in which [redacted] links to a site selling unevidenced pills (not the ones mentioned here) so his spam* comment doesn't get through without modification I'm afraid.

    *The text of the comment is fine but the comment was just posted so that (if I approved it) it would mean that my blog linked to the site. People might click through and buy stuff but also when Google indexes this blog it will co-index the link and assume that my (or any) blog linking to it means that it's a useful site.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Christina Jeni, whose MoreNiche affiliate banner link ID thingy is 31674&w=290463&s=157&uc=311054370525417472, says "Thanks for sharing this useful information.. [REDACTED]."

    The redacted link is to a site selling the product mentioned above ;)

    ReplyDelete
  35. And still the endless parade of useless spam links masquerading as comments continues ;)

    Phen Review says "There are numbers of things which you people must know about Phen375 and its positive reviews. People need to understand about this than buy this product.It is very important for them."

    They give the link to their website which sells the product, it comes from R.D.K. Holdings, and from the source text I've gathered their MoreNiche affiliate ID details, which are: id=16241&w=138472&s=157&uc=313409499555696640 - I don't think the uc bit has much to do with it though.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Rebeka Christy says "Thanks for sharing such a good information.." - I've redacted her website but here's her MoreNiche tracking id information

    id=31674&w=290463&s=157
    id=31673&w=290463&s=157
    id=31676&w=290463&s=157
    id=31661&w=290463&s=157

    ReplyDelete
  37. Flushed with the success of getting a comment through yesterday Rebeka Christy tries again, with the same website [redacted] and this comment: "This info you provided in the blog that was really unique I love it!!"

    ReplyDelete
  38. Steve Carve pinged this somewhat inexplicable comment to the blog - "I've been honored to meet some of these folks and totally agree with your choices, great bloggers!" but I'm afraid I've redacted his irrelevant web link that I think is about fitness in general.

    I like to think that people have cottoned on to the fact that they're never going to get a link placed on this blog, and are just sending these comments to annoy me :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. ChristinaJeni, perhaps encouraged by Rebeka Christy's comment, says "This info you provided in the blog that was really unique I love it!!" - her MoreNiche affiliate id is also the same id=31674&w=290463&s=157 - amazing ;)

    ReplyDelete
  40. I've just had a look at the sitemap for ChristinaJeni's site and found that they're selling quite a lot of other products too.

    The actual website is redacted but the pages below would have addresses like http://www.WEBSITE.com/proactol-reviews

    /proactol-reviews/
    /uniquehoodia-review/
    /capsiplex-reviews/
    /adiphene-reviews/
    /phen375-review/
    /avitashop-review/
    /mint-cosmetics-reviews/
    /tea-tone-plus-review/
    /pure-acai-berry-max-review/
    /naturewise-garcinia-cambogia-extract-natural-appetite-suppressant-weight-loss-supplement/
    /zero-peroxide-review/
    eye-secrets-reviews/
    ketone-balance-duo-reviews/
    /nuratrim-reviews/
    /clear-skin-max-reviews/
    /har-vokse-reviews/
    /meratol-review/
    /evolution-slimming-review/
    /provailen-review/
    /koutea-reviews/
    /sleeppro-reviews/
    /52-fast-formula-reviews/
    /bronx-sport-review/

    ReplyDelete
  41. Christina Jeni has tried again to get a link from this blog, this time with Garcinia cambogia extract - another product for which there's no evidence of effectiveness (or more importantly safety). If you've bought any of these products, investigate the chargeback facility to get rid of it again.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Param wonders, while trying to sneak in a link to a dodgy weight loss site:

    "Thanks for sharing this interesting post!
    One of my friends would like to lose weight because he is about to get married in 2 months. some suggested him to use Garcinia Cambogia because of its HCA extraction. Please let me know is this product good for health."

    Hi Param - No, Garcinia cambogia is not good for health nor is it of much use in weight loss. It's a scam, best avoided.

    ReplyDelete

Comment policy: I enthusiastically welcome corrections and I entertain polite disagreement ;) Because of the nature of this blog it attracts a LOT - 5 a day at the moment - of spam comments (I write about spam practices,misleading marketing and unevidenced quackery) and so I'm more likely to post a pasted version of your comment, removing any hyperlinks.

Comments written in ALL CAPS LOCK will be deleted and I won't publish any pro-homeopathy comments, that ship has sailed I'm afraid (it's nonsense).