The weird case of Caracol Cream offers a glimpse into the sometimes slimy but lucrative world of anti-aging product hype, in which an $80 cream is promoted vigorously by an allegedly scam-busting association that probably doesn’t exist based on tests in a laboratory that also probably doesn’t exist.
Who knew that the goo from Helix aspersa, your garden-variety brown snail, is rich in skin-nourishing compounds? (It was a brave woman who first daubed snail on her skin.) But yes: Caracol Cream is also known as crema de baba de caracol, which translates—on some websites—as cream of snail slobber. The extract hails from Chile where, according to one account, a farmer who couldn’t sell the snails for food decided to sell their slime instead.
Caracol-cream.com, which I’ll explain more about later, says its version of the cream will “eliminate the most visible signs of aging in one single, ultra effective step”—though more than 20 recent complaints by that site’s customers involve multiple, unwanted automatic monthly billings.
I discovered the snail-based anti-aging trail via a blog that was making fun of really bad photo doctoring. The blogger pointed to a website representing the American Anti-Aging Association (AAAA), which had clearly and egregiously Photoshopped its name on its supposed Fort Lauderdale headquarters.
But what is the AAAA?
Off I went to AmericanAntiAgingAssociation.com, which no longer sports the HQ photo but claims to have tested 279 wrinkle creams and anti-aging products. In a now-removed page, the AAAA described itself as a “non-profit organization dedicated to cutting through all the false claims and scams that have been quite prominent in the Anti-Aging industry as of late.”
Today the site advances itself as the product of one person and “a few of my closest friends” who wanted to “research” wrinkle cream on the Internet. Yet it also claimed, on a page titled “History of The American Anti-Aging Association” that was taken off the site only a few days ago, that the AAAA is 9 years old and led by a “highly respected and decorated” dermatologist named Dr. Yangoff, with testing laboratories which are, they are sorry to advise on another page, “closed to the general public.”
I found no listings for the AAAA in online directories, and no listings when I called the phone company. A 1999 filing under “American Anti-Aging Association Inc.” with the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations is presently listed as “inactive.” Nor does Dr. Yangoff return any Google results, despite his decorations—except sites that question Yangoff’s existence. Nor did the AAAA return my emails.
In any case, anyone can see that the site is a badly written promotional funnel for just one of the 279 products it has allegedly tested: Caracol Cream, the “Winner Of The American Anti-Aging Associations [sic] 2008 Study.” (It cites a few other products, but only links to caracol-cream.com, repeatedly.)
Next page: Meanwhile, at the snail cream website…
Comments (18)
I fell for the scam believing the hyped stories about the AAAA and of course minutes after I pressed “order” for the free trial, I did a quick search for proof of the 2008 Best product award as well as all the claims from doctors, practioners, etc. I quickly realized that it was all fake. And as soon as I tried to cancel the order (right after purchasing) the whole experience was a disaster. There’s no direct customer service number to call just a phone answering service, the chat service respondents use scripted responses and never answer your questions directly and there is no return address to ship the product back for your money back guarantee. The best thing anyone can do is to dispute the fraudulent charges on their credit card and file a complaint with the BBB. Thank you for the article. I hope people read it before getting scammed.
Recently, I noticed an advertisement on AOL for Caracol Cream and decided to check it out. On the site it gave what appeared to be credible information with research by American Anit-Aging Research. It all looked on the up and up! Usually I goggle for verification, but this time I didn’t. Shame on Me. Because it was a trial offer I figure it would be ok. It wasn’t until I put in my credit card information and click send that I got the news that they would be billing my credit card for monthly amounts, after trying the product, but I could return it if not satisfied. I knew then I had been SCAMED. I waited for the product to arrive knowing I wouldn’t be keeping it. There was No seals of approval by anyone, nor any information for return, no phone numbers nothing except a mailing address that it had been sent. It had been shipped from 5300 Ontario Mills Parkway, Suite 400, Ontario CA 91764 which I just goggled and turns out to also be the address of the Wu-Yi weight loss tea…same scam, same address. And, guess what “Slim System” is another one of their scams, same process. They use the name Optimum Marketing Systems Return. This is outrageous and I am outraged. I immediately called my credit card company same day of receiving the snail slim (which they don’t tell you). I had to close the credit card account and transfer to another to prevent the neferous company of bilking me out of more money. I did not dispute the fraduent $4.95 robbery, but, now with new evidence I will. DON”T FALL for this SCAM. I feel like I have been mugged! Diana
FYI, I have a rule in buying anything. If in the fine print they say that they will be charging me monthly after the trial offer, I do not buy thier product. If a company can not give me a true free trail offer without ties I do not need it. I am willing to pay shipping to try the offer.
Buyer be ware, Nothing is that good!
I too was taken for my money. I received my jar only to find it had been used, the seal was brokem, the lid was cracked and I called immediately and they said they were so sorry and would ship another one next day. The following day I was charge not only the $4.95, I was also charge $68.90 less than 2 days after that. I immediately called and spoke with a person who would not give me an ID# but only a first name. I also emailed and responded and a David Warren responded back to me and told me he would immediately refund my $68.90 and it would take 7 days. That was on Sept 30, 2008. When I tried to respond to him per his instructions below, I only continued to get a automatic reply back. No response as of yet. Still not money back yet.
Here is the email:
From: Caracol Cream Support [mailto:support@caracol-cream.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 1:55 PM
Subject: Caracol cream- Support
Tracy,
I am terribly sorry for the mix up. I have personally gone ahead and voided the transaction of 68.9; therefore you are not being charged. I have looked into our records of your replacement and I have requested our shipping department to send you another one free of charge since you have not received the most recent one yet.
If you have anymore questions, please do not hesitate to contact me personally at anytime by replying to this email as we are always here and happy to assist you.
Thanks,
David Warren
Customer Support Team Manager
Buyer beware indeed. As adults we should all know to read offer details. As excited as you may be for the product inthe back of our minds we know that nothing in this world is free…much less when your providing a credit card. So happy hunting!
Well I guess all of everyone’s hard work is paying off because I have not been charged again to my bank account. Thank you all for your efforts and communication about this scam company!
Also fell for this scam on Jan 5th 2009. I tried to cancel order right after submitting my cc info when I felt something fishy was up. I thought the order didn’t go through. I never received confirmation email. Called Caracol and spoke with a Robert: He stated there was no record of my order. Then 3 days later, lo and behold a charge showed up on my CC. About Caracol’s website: I did some more investigating and discovered that the Verisign logo that they show on their website to instill trust is a fake. If you look closely, the verisign logo does not have the copyright mark on it. Also, if you click on the verisign logo it will not show a registered popup which according to verisign corporate is always the telltale if it is a fake. Verisign suggested I complain via online form, sadly they report this happens “all the time.” Ugh. Everyone, be very very careful buying online. The scemes are getting more sophisticated. The FBI is the best way to complain through their complaints board. They will investigate.
I too was scammed by this company! Unfortunately I did not even notice the scam until I got another pump of the junk and a bill for $75.90!!!
My credit card will not back me up (citibank)
I do not know what to do to get my money back
This product and the AAAA is obviously a scam. My question is: WHY is MSN side headlining this product (Caracol anti-wrinkle cream) on their Internet Explorer opening page news. If they know why are they still allowing it…If they don’t why dont they?
I have been chatting live with caracol cream for the last 40 minutes or so. They have promised me complete satisfaction if I just return the product unopened. The interesting thing is that no one could tell me about Pam or who their CEO was. I will see if they make good on their promise. If not I will do whatever it takes to get satisfaction/
My post was on Feb 19th 2009
I have been looking several of these adds on an “inside page” of FoxNews.com. the adds are never on the same page and are hosted by a company called “AdBlade”. Most of the products I have investigated have the method of operation: a product whose value is constantly questioned, a huge discount for the first shipment, a shipping and handling charge, an automatic monthly enrollment, a possible additional enrollment in another monthly service, a complicated cancelation process, etc.
I have not investigated this connection, but I believe there is a link between these prolific web sites and the “Make $ on your computer at home” infomercials.
I have been charged 3 times for my 1 and only shipment. Any luck in canceling and having the charges voided? or should I just change my cancel my credit card?
I have been charged 3 times for my 1 and only shipment. Any luck in canceling and having the charges voided? or should I just cancel my credit card?
I finally got them to credit my credit card with the money that they “stole” from me. I had to go thru the bbb first. It worked for me, good luck!
Same experience as the other ladies. I am from Canada and it takes a while for shipment to arrive. But only 1 day after I received the product, I found a charge on my credit card. I furiously called and a certain NORMA entertained my fury. What was the basis of their 14-day trial period to start charging. YOU CANNOT even cancel the order without waiting for the product and returning it thereafter. Based on the other’s experiences, I went ahead and disputed the charge from my cc company and I was given a “return authorization number” – good luck to me, I hope NORMA actually cancelled the automatic order system they had. I am very nervous, though, that they will continue charging my cc, in which case I will ahve it disputed and cancel or change my cc.
Today, I have become a victim of Caracol Cream scam.
My credit card has been charged $59.95 without my authorization. After complaining to them I got the usual reply. Return the product and your chrages will be reversed. It sounds incredible that in this day and age such companies are still not done with ripping innocent victims
This company porvides a decent product and clear cancellation information. I loved the product and eventually did not need it anymore. I contacted the returns number and they made the whole experience very smooth. I hope everyone sees that this company does explain its policies clearly and the product does really work!