I was contacted by a telemarketer calling from within my local area code. He explained that there was a new product coming out, Natural Nectar, which they were trying to get some marketing information on. He said he had gotten my phone number from GNC, as the company was trying to get their product picked up by GNC or Vitamin World. Tip off #1: I hadn't purchased anything from GNC since moving to a new home (3 years ago) so they wouldn't have my #. Also, I've never been into a Vitamin World.

He said that this was a free trial, all I had to do was pay shipping & handling on this product (Natural Nectar) and to answer a survey at the beginning and end of my 30 days so that they could get some testimonials. He also mentioned another product they were testing, called Appetite Crush that contained hoodia to help with cravings. There was no on-going subscription, that I would only pay S&H. I was sick, not thinking clearly (thanks cough meds) so I agreed to it. Tip off #2: The telemarketer made remarks about missing Atlanta, although he was calling from a (404) number.

Afterwards I started to ask questions. I've worked in litigation so long that I'm really NOT the one to try to de-fraud. I googled the product and could not come up with a website for it. When I received the confirmation email, I finally got a look at the website. My email promised recipes, text messaging features, hundreds of workout videos, etc. However, the website was like a Hollywood movie set: a front page set up to look like a working site, without actually having working links.

Market Media looked like a legit marketing service. Notice I say LOOKED. When I googled the phone number, there were a ton of complaints and notices of fraud. I did a whois on another of the websites listing this phone number and found yet another "marketing service" behind it. I dug a little deeper and found they were hosted by Nameview.com- a site that manages large domain name portfolio owners, as in portfolios with over 500 domain names, including hiding the identity of the owner.

So I called the number and was met with "Customer Service." (Notice the lack of company.) I asked "Customer Service for who?" The gentleman stumbled a bit and said, "Well, we service several companies. Which one do you need assistance with?" I found that to be odd, too.

I get the "hoodia" pills, which -by the way- do not contain hoodia. About a week later I get the Natural Nectar pills.

Not even a full week later my credit card is charged $79.95 by a "Fitness 866-951-0371."

Before I even made any calls, I did more digging. Oddly, I came across another page- fitnessnectar.biz- whose domain registration was done by proxy, selling the same product. At this point I also came across www.naturalnectar.info.

HERE is where you can find the fine print. EVERYTHING that the telemarketer said to me was false. They send you the product, and then give you 14 days to opt out of a "membership" which includes access to a website that doesn't work. And in the terms they say that they are not responsible for your inability to use the site. Hello, fraud?!

Oh, and get this- the company handles their returns out of Utah, and claim to be a subsidiary of a company in Nevada. But in their "contract" (and I use that term very, very, very loosely) they want any disputes to be governed by the laws of Wyoming (though they spell it incorrectly.)

So I call the company. Again met with the "customer service" with- no-business-name-listed line. I asked to speak with someone in "membership". The Membership person, when I said I wanted to discontinue my free trial, tried to say that the 14 day trial was for the doesn't-contain-hoodia "hoodia product" that the trial date for the Natural Nectar is 10 days. I'm on my 11th day, hence the charge. I say "According to the terms and conditions on your website, I have 14 days." She SAYS she reversed the charges.

I'm hoping this actually happens and I don't have to deal with these people again. I'm also considering calling the Attorney General of Nevada to have this company investigated. First I plan to wait and see if they give me my money back.