FRAUD ALERT for acai berry supplements

I made an internet purchase on 11/7/2008 to try a dietary supplement called acai berry. I was on the www.oprah.com website when I saw the advertisement. My purchase was billed as “White Tea” and I was provided with a phone number of 1-866-442-2966 to cancel within 15 days of the ship date. I made the purchase 11/7/2008, as of 11/20/08 I had not received the shipment. On 11/20/2008 I called 1-866-442-2966 and the number was and still is disconnected. This number also matches what is billed on my credit card statement. I was within my 15 day window to cancel.

I still had not received the shipment as of 11/26/08. I had no other number to call.

I had flown out of town Thanksgiving Day 11/27/08 and returned the evening of Tuesday 12/02/08; the shipment was not in the mail I received 12/02/2008. I received the shipment 12/03/2008 the day after my return.

I logged into my Bank of America account 11/28/08 and saw a charge dated 11/26/08 in the amount of $88.62 to “Acaisupreme8669384832”. So on Friday 11/28/08 at 10:45am eastern I called this number 1-866-938-4832 and I got a message stating they were closed for the holiday and to please call back Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm eastern. I am puzzled because I was calling on a Friday?

On Monday 12/01/2008 I called 1-866-938-4832 again at about 2:30pm eastern and I got a recorded message again saying to call Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm eastern. There was no opportunity at any time to leave a message.

On Friday 12/05/2008 at 12:30pm eastern I called 1-866-938-4832 during my lunch break only to get the same recorded message to call Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm eastern.

On Wednesday 12/10/2008 at 11am eastern I called again on my morning break at work to 1-866-938-4832 only to get the same recorded message to call Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm eastern.

I logged on to Bank of America account 12/24/2008 to check my due date and look into another matter. I was alarmed to see another charge to a slightly different merchant name of “Acai Supreme 00 of 00” with a phone number of 877-907-0680 in the amount of $94.57.

On 12/24/2008 I called this phone number 1-877-907-0680, it rings two times, then a few seconds of silence, and then disconnects.

Immediately then on 12/24/2008 I called the number on my credit card to Bank of America 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX and filed a dispute with a representative because I was alarmed. I spoke to a Bank of America representative and she explained to me that I authorized the internet transaction and the subsequent billing’s that I was calling about. I told her I did authorize one charge of $5.95 and had received the shipment. I clearly stated I have not received any further shipments. At the time that I spoke with her I could only provide her with the date and one time of the disconnected call to the merchant. The Bank of America representative said she was putting this in dispute and I would receive information in the mail in 7-10 days. She further advised me that the merchant would continue to charge my account much to my objection. Once this call ended I began researching the toll free numbers and the merchant name on my credit card statements.

I googled the phone numbers and all paths lead back to a web address of www.acaiberriesonline.org Yes I confirmed it is the same phone number on my credit card statement.