Attorney General Sues Online Health Product Distributor
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced his office filed a law suit against a Miami company, a related company and company principals over allegations the companies engaged in deceptive marketing practices. Advanced Wellness Research, Inc. allegedly offered free trials for its products, including Acai berry supplements and whitening toothpaste, but failed to provide reasonable notice that customers would be charged approximately $80 on a monthly basis for products they did not intend to purchase.
The Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Division began investigating the companies after receiving over 700 complaints about the companies. According to the complaints, consumers who tried to cancel the continuation program were unable to contact the company from which the products were purchased.
Investigators also believe that Advanced Wellness company president Nicolas Molina and vice president Michael Trimarco became aware of the investigation and sold their business to Kelly O’Shea, a former Advanced Wellness employee. O’Shea created a new entity, Netalab Corp., and allegedly continued the same unfair and deceptive trade practices initially begun by Advanced Wellness.
The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief against the defendants, prohibiting further business activities which violate Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, as well as restitution on behalf of all victimized consumers, civil penalties of $10,000 for each violation, and reimbursement for fees and costs related to the investigation.
Consumers affected by these or other practices may file a complaint affidavit by visiting the Attorney General’s website at http://www.myfloridalegal.com or calling 1-866-966-7226.
A copy of the lawsuit is available at: http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-7W7KF4/$file/AdvancedWellnessComplaint.pdf
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced his office filed a law suit against a Miami company, a related company and company principals over allegations the companies engaged in deceptive marketing practices. Advanced Wellness Research, Inc. allegedly offered free trials for its products, including Acai berry supplements and whitening toothpaste, but failed to provide reasonable notice that customers would be charged approximately $80 on a monthly basis for products they did not intend to purchase.
The Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Division began investigating the companies after receiving over 700 complaints about the companies. According to the complaints, consumers who tried to cancel the continuation program were unable to contact the company from which the products were purchased.
Investigators also believe that Advanced Wellness company president Nicolas Molina and vice president Michael Trimarco became aware of the investigation and sold their business to Kelly O’Shea, a former Advanced Wellness employee. O’Shea created a new entity, Netalab Corp., and allegedly continued the same unfair and deceptive trade practices initially begun by Advanced Wellness.
The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief against the defendants, prohibiting further business activities which violate Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, as well as restitution on behalf of all victimized consumers, civil penalties of $10,000 for each violation, and reimbursement for fees and costs related to the investigation.
Consumers affected by these or other practices may file a complaint affidavit by visiting the Attorney General’s website at http://www.myfloridalegal.com or calling 1-866-966-7226.
A copy of the lawsuit is available at: http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-7W7KF4/$file/AdvancedWellnessComplaint.pdf
