I have no idea whether snail slime smoothes wrinkles. Caracol-cream.com offers no convincing evidence that it does. But there sure is something slimy about this site’s labyrinthine “free trial” offer, which involves a $4.95 shipping charge and a 14-day trial period that begins when you receive the cream (how do they know that?), and ends when they bill you $59.95, a discount on the regular $79.95 price. You have been, in the meantime, signed up for monthly shipments. To cancel this rigmarole, you must phone or “live chat” online, obtain a “return authorization number,” mail the cream back, get dinged for a 15% “restocking fee,” and then get reimbursed for the charges. If you try to cancel minutes after ordering, as I did, you are told that “future shipments” have been canceled, but not the trial shipment—even though the company has 30 days to ship the stuff.
At least 21 recent tales of woe on complaintsboard.com, a consumer-complaint community site, concern unauthorized charges, double billing, and similar alleged practices by caracol-cream.com. The complaints appear to have begun in July, and most were posted in the past two weeks. There is also an analysis of the Caracol/AAAA connection, posted in mid-July, on a site called scam.com.
Jason Popko did respond to an email, but said he was too busy to talk. I emailed him questions; so far, no response. In a “live chat” session, a company rep denied any connection with the AAAA, yet on three occasions when I ordered the cream, the AAAA site URL briefly flashed in the caracol-cream.com URL bar when the site was confirming my credit card.
The bottom line for consumers: Caveat emptor if you’re surfing the Web for the fountain of youth. Caracol Cream and the AAAA are merely a particularly blatant, almost comical example of slippery product-review sites created to promote and link to a single anti-aging business. It’s the Wild West out there, because the FDA doesn’t require proof of effectiveness for cosmetics, even if they make what are essentially medical claims—one reason even doctors have jumped into the business.
But there are subtler approaches. One example: ThePerformanceLeader.com, a site that reviews more than 200 wrinkle creams and products but, in the end, really recommends only one—Dermapril-SP. Yes, this site makes it clear on every page that it’s sponsored by the makers of Dermapril-SP—fair enough—but it also “reviews” its own product and declares it “Top Choice for 2008.” Which is like me reviewing every blog under the sun and declaring mine “Top Choice for 2008.”
Web entrepreneurs use multiple-site linking and the low cost of site building to create the appearance of credibility and buzz, then troll for suckers. The National Institutes of Health has a good summary of devices and language that signal quackery in anti-aging claims.
Also check out the recently launched beauty blog TruthinAging.com, a lively forum for product reviews in the burgeoning anti-aging industry, many of them opinionated and negative. But keep your eyes peeled: Guess what I found in the paid-ad section of TruthinAging’s home page the other day? An ad promising to expose the truth about wrinkle creams—from the American Anti-Aging Association.
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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!