The Scam of Shark Tank Weight Loss Gummies Revealed

With the continuous obsession about magical weight loss solutions, it is no surprise that the Shark Tank weight loss gummies scam is as powerful as ever. With obesity rates climbing, consumers are on a constant quest for a miracle solution that can provide quick and effortless results.

Her I will try to to dissect the mechanisms of this scam, its history, its impact on readers and potential consumers, and the broader implications for the health supplement industry.

Anatomy of the Weight Loss Gummies Scam

The Shark Tank weight loss gummies scam operates by leveraging the credibility and popularity of the show Shark Tank. Here, entrepreneurs pitch their products to a panel of investors (aka, the Sharks). If you watched at least one episode of Shark Tank, then you know that Sharks can invest in a wide range of products. When the valuation is right, entrepreneurs become millionaires, and the Sharks become even more rich. Also, they bring to the market unique and useful products.

Scammers pray upon the fans who love the show. They create fake advertisements, fake product reviews, and take fake pictures. They claim that these gummies have been featured on the show, endorsed, or even invested in by the Sharks, despite no such episode or endorsement ever occurring (Snopes).

These fraudulent ads often include altered images, fabricated testimonials, and deceptive claims of efficacy. They promise dramatic weight loss with little to no effort, capitalizing on the desperation of consumers looking for a quick fix to their weight issues. The scam is not limited to keto gummies; it has also been reported with CBD gummies and other supplements purportedly linked to the show (Malwaretips).

How far did the Shark Tank Weight Loss Gummies Scam Go?

Let’s do some investigative work and try to figure out just how bad and desperate these scammers are.

1. Do the Google results look legit?

The answer is a solid NO! They do not look legit. First, why in heaven’s sake would the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh endorse these pills!?!? Or why woulf the Art Museum of South Texas do the same?

They don’t, trust me. But what happened is that the scammers were able to redirect the traffic from that URL to their landing page. Moreover, exploiting the authority and trust of 1) a .edu site, 2) the University of Pittsburgh, they ranked first on Google. As simple as that!

If you look at the URL from the results, you can see how they contain non-readable words. For example, the first link after pshychiatry.pitt.edu contains the following string:

klzBnXG-kVfb/bssvpvny-pxS-funex-gnax-jrvtug-ybff-thzzvrf

I purposely didn’t put the link because I don’t want anyone to click on it. The same it true for all other fake links.

2. Where do these links go?

Since safety is important, I first jumped behind a VPN, then open in a separate session these links.

The Impact on Consumers

Consumers lured by these scams are often left with ineffective products and lighter wallets. In some cases, these products can even pose health risks due to unverified ingredients and dosages. The psychological impact of falling victim to such scams can also not be understated, as it can erode trust in legitimate products and the supplement industry as a whole.

The use of celebrity names and reputations as part of the scam adds another layer of deception. High-profile individuals such as Simon Cowell, Oprah Winfrey, and Kelly Clarkson have been falsely associated with these products, misleading consumers who trust these celebrities’ judgments (Snopes; USA Today).

Industry and Regulatory Response

The persistence of these scams has prompted responses from various quarters. Fact-checking organizations and news outlets have dedicated resources to debunking these false claims (USA Today; USA Today). Additionally, the Better Business Bureau and other consumer protection agencies have issued warnings and advice on how to spot and avoid such scams (Good Housekeeping).

Even the Federal and Trade Commission Consumer Advice page warns you against any claim saying that the Sharks endorsed miracle product A or B.

Before you spend money on that “Shark-approved” miracle invention, weight loss product, or keto diet pill, are you sure it’s really been through the Tank? Really sure? Scammers are using fake Shark Tank celebrity testimonials and endorsements — complete with doctored photos and videos — to generate buzz and profits. Before you click and buy, follow this advice and check it out.

Karen Hobbs
Assistant Director, Division of Consumer & Business Education. February 17, 2023

However, the regulatory landscape for dietary supplements remains relatively lax in comparison to other health products, which allows for such scams to proliferate. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve dietary supplements in the same manner as it does pharmaceuticals, which means that efficacy and safety are often not thoroughly vetted before these products reach consumers.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Based on the information provided, it is clear that the Shark Tank weight loss gummies scam is a deliberate and calculated exploitation of consumer trust. The scam not only defrauds individuals but also undermines the credibility of legitimate businesses and the health supplement industry.

As an investigative journalist, the opinion formed on this matter is that there needs to be a more robust regulatory framework for dietary supplements, including stricter advertisement guidelines and penalties for fraudulent claims. Consumers should be educated on the importance of skepticism towards weight loss products that promise unrealistic results and should be encouraged to research thoroughly before making purchases.

In the meantime, the responsibility falls on media outlets, consumer protection agencies, and the producers of “Shark Tank” to continue exposing these scams and protecting potential victims from financial and health-related repercussions.

References

• Liles, Jordan. “’Shark Tank’ Keto Gummies Weight Loss Reviews Are a Scam.” Snopes, 30 June 2021, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/shark-tank-weight-loss-scam/.
• “How The Shark Tank Weight Loss Scam Works.” Malwaretips, https://malwaretips.com/blogs/shark-tank-weight-loss-scams/.
• “’Shark Tank’ Keto Gummies Weight Loss Reviews Are a Scam.” Snopes, 31 May 2023, https://www.snopes.com/search/weight-loss-gummies-scam/.
• Fichera, Angelo. “Fact check: CBD gummies in ad have no relation to ‘Shark Tank’ investors or contestants.” USA Today, 29 July 2021, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/07/29/fact-check-cbd-gummy-hoax-has-no-relation-shark-tank/5419572001/.
• McCarthy, Ellen. “Fact check: False claim that ‘Shark Tank’ judges endorsed a keto diet pill.” USA Today, 11 October 2021, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/10/11/fact-check-false-claim-shark-tank-judges-endorsed-keto-diet-pill/6035141001/.
• Zoldan, Rachel Jacoby. “There’s a Major ‘Shark Tank’ Keto Pill Scam You Need to Know About.” Good Housekeeping, 23 October 2020, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a34372630/shark-tank-keto-diet-pill-scam-controversy/.