The Federal Trade Commission today announced it has sent 10 letters warning multi-level marketing companies (MLMs) to remove and address claims that they or their participants are making about their products’ ability to treat or prevent coronavirus disease or about the earnings people who have recently lost income can make, or both.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there currently are no products that are scientifically proven to treat or prevent the virus.
The letters highlight specific claims made by the companies or their distributors in social media posts and videos posted online, including:
A video that includes the statement, “I can tell you that there’s thousands of people that are out of work right now. They’re all looking for a way to go earn money. This is a great stimulus package, because you get to teach somebody how to go earn $1,730 literally in their first 10 days in the business.”
A social media post that said, “Got the coronavirus heebeegeebees? Boost your immunity with this amazing deal!!!!”
The FTC sent the letters to the companies listed below. The recipients are grouped based on the type of claims made.
10 Companies That Received Letter From FTC
Both Health and Earnings Claims:
1. doTERRA International, LLC
2. Pruvit Ventures, Inc.
3. Total Life Changes, LLC
4. Tranont
5. Modere, Inc.
6. Arbonne International, LLC
Earnings Claims:
7. IDLife, LLC
8. It Works Marketing, Inc. (this company was also itself warned to stop making earnings claims)
9. Rodan & Fields, LLC
Health Claims:
10. Zurvita, Inc.