FTC Sending Additional Refund Checks to Consumers Who Bought LeanSpa Products

The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 1,951 refund checks totaling over $321,000 to consumers who bought supposed weight-loss products marketed by LeanSpa, LLC. This is the second round of checks in this matter.

The FTC and the State of Connecticut sued the marketers of LeanSpa in December 2011, charging that they used fake websites to promote acai berry and “colon cleanse” weight-loss products, and falsely told consumers they could receive free trials by paying a nominal shipping and handling cost. In reality, consumers paid $79.95 for the trial, and for recurring monthly shipments of the product that were hard to cancel. The LeanSpa marketers settled the complaint in 2014, agreeing to stop their allegedly deceptive practices and surrender assets for consumer redress.

In October 2015, the FTC announced it was mailing more than 23,000 checks totaling over $3.7 million to consumers who bought LeanSpa products. After the initial mailing was complete, money remained in the settlement fund. The Commission used a portion of this money to send postcards to consumers potentially affected by LeanSpa’s marketing practices, and received more than 2,000 responses, leading to the additional refund mailing announced today.

Rust Consulting, Inc., the refund administrator for this matter, will begin mailing checks today. The average check amount is $164.87, and it must be cashed within 60 days, as indicated on the check. The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information to cash refund checks. Consumers who bought LeanSpa products but did not receive a refund can call 1-866-621-4156.

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