A few days ago, I received this text message.
DUANE, this dieting solution is making headlines! This is your only chance for a a free bottle!
-> iowark.club/11493/sHXaoKTxt Stop to end
I wasn't particularly alarmed that it was addressed to me by name, since my phone number has been added to innumerable spam lists for as long as I've owned it. Aside from text spammers, IRS scammer groups have called me and already possessed my full name and address.
Anyway, back to the message.
The given URL is obviously hiding behind a URL shortening link, like bit.ly and a quick WhoIs search reveals that iowark.club is an anonymously-registered website, purchased from Namecheap and hiding behind WhoisGuard, Inc in order to prevent people from knowing who is actually running the site.
if you click on the shortened link, it redirects you to
http://prayandlove.club/GPS/
The site playandlove.club is also anonymously-registered and is probably run by the same people as iowark.club which should tell you how much trust you should put into what these people are trying to sell you.
A Big Pile of Lies
Clicking on the link sends you to a webpage that is made to appear like it's part of GadgetPush, but it really isn't. Clicking on any part of the page send you to the site where you can purchase what these people are selling. Even the footer of the page that is supposed to contain links to other sections of GadgetPush really don't do anything. So, they're impersonating GadgetPush, which is yet another reason not to trust them.
The page itself mentions two sisters - Anna and Samantha Martin - who supposedly appeared on an episode of Shark Tank where they gave a sales pitch to the Sharks in an attempt to get them to invest in their company, ALKATONE KETO. A picture of the sisters was provided:
Mark Cuban even responded to the claims being made about Alkatone Keto being featured on Shark Tank
Here's the actual video of Sarah and Megan talking to the SharksThis is a scam. If you see anything like this please report them to the @FTC https://t.co/naXO47HQcj— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) July 5, 2018
So, this whole sales pitch for Alkatone Keto is just a big, steaming pile of bullshit!
Checking It Out
Going to the purchase page, reveals a bit more shadiness on the part of these people.
The website Alkatone.com was purchased via GoDaddy in August 2018, is registered anonymously and uses Cloudflare as its server. Anyone familiar with Cloudflare's association with questionable websites in the past wouldn't be surprised by Alkatone's choice of server.
Alkatone even uses stock photos on their site, such as this one.
I was only able to use the Google Image Search on that picture, but I think we can safely assume that, aside from the pictures of the product, all photos of actual people on the page are likely to be stock photos. So, Alkatone is either too cheap or lazy to hire some models for a photo shoot.
Naturally, they post "reviews" from "satisfied customers" on their site, which don't mean anything because the reviews could have been written by the people running the company and I couldn't find them anywhere on Facebook. They state on their site "Why does it (Alkatone Keto) have Scientists, Doctors and Celebrities Buzzing?" without mentioning exactly which scientists, doctors and celebrities are supposedly "buzzing" about it.
Who Are They?
The true identities of the people involved is difficult to determine without getting a lawyer involved.
The toll-free number 1-800-938-8182 was purchased from ATL Communications and I haven't found this number being associated with any other product.
Under their Terms and Conditions, the following address is provided for customers to mail back returns:
AlkaTone Returns
PO Box 30111-51
Salt Lake City, UT 84130
Now that I have an address, I can see what other businesses have used it in the past and they seem to be selling supplements of various types:
- Visual Enhance RX that sells pills that they claim make your eyes better or whatever;
- MelaLuna that they say will help you sleep and
- Absolute Keto more weight loss pills.
Even though they all use the same PO Box mailing address, they use separate toll-free numbers, which is pretty smart, I guess.
Social Media Activity
They have a Twitter account, with zero followers and no tweets. However, they has been an enormous amount of activity on behalf of Alkatone Keto, as you can see with a simple search.
I've also noticed activity on Facebook regarding Alkatone Keto, from dedicated pages to posts offering "reviews", which read more like advertisements selling the product.
On YouTube, there are many videos "reviewing" Alkatone Keto and even a channel who really seems to be concentrating on singing its praises.
Considering how much exposure products like Alkatone Keto is getting and remembering how various fake cures for tinnitus have received similar exposure on social media in the past, I'm wondering if there are companies or agencies that you can hire to advertise health supplements on social media. The reason I'm beginning to suspect this is because these accounts seem to go from advertising one product today to advertising another product tomorrow and people don't usually advertise a product unless they truly believe in it or are getting paid.
Every time I post a blog like this, someone asks "How do you know it's a scam? Have you even tried it?" and I have to laugh when I get a stupid question like that. Even Alkatone Keto posts this disclaimer at the bottom of their own website:
I don't have to try the product to point-out their use of falsehoods and how they take extreme steps to conceal their identity. If their product was so good, why hide who you are and where you really are?
The Truth is that you can't buy health out of a bottle. If you want to try the Ketogenic Diet, I advise you to consult a doctor. Expecting to substitute the hard work of putting yourself on a ketogenic diet and keeping yourself on it by simply taking a few pills everyday is lazy and a waste of money.
Personally, I wouldn't purchase any product where the people selling it were:
Considering how much exposure products like Alkatone Keto is getting and remembering how various fake cures for tinnitus have received similar exposure on social media in the past, I'm wondering if there are companies or agencies that you can hire to advertise health supplements on social media. The reason I'm beginning to suspect this is because these accounts seem to go from advertising one product today to advertising another product tomorrow and people don't usually advertise a product unless they truly believe in it or are getting paid.
Does It Work?
Every time I post a blog like this, someone asks "How do you know it's a scam? Have you even tried it?" and I have to laugh when I get a stupid question like that. Even Alkatone Keto posts this disclaimer at the bottom of their own website:
Notice: The products and information found on this site are not intended to replace professional medical advice or treatment. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary.You see, they have to post this disclaimer. If they didn't, the Federal Government could file criminal charges against them for practicing medicine without a license.
I don't have to try the product to point-out their use of falsehoods and how they take extreme steps to conceal their identity. If their product was so good, why hide who you are and where you really are?
The Truth is that you can't buy health out of a bottle. If you want to try the Ketogenic Diet, I advise you to consult a doctor. Expecting to substitute the hard work of putting yourself on a ketogenic diet and keeping yourself on it by simply taking a few pills everyday is lazy and a waste of money.
The Final Word
Personally, I wouldn't purchase any product where the people selling it were:
- Advertising it by sending out unsolicited text messages,
- Making false claims about their product being featured on Shark Tank,
- Make unsubstantiated claims of support from doctors, scientists and celebrities,
- Post unverified reviews from supposedly satisfied customers and
- Taking extraordinary steps to conceal their true identity and location.
Alkatone Keto is just another scheme where people are looking for gullible individuals who want good health without doing the hard work.
Avoid them like the Plague!
Duane Browning
