Alarm bells briefing: slimming pill 'free trial' scams
The Citizens Advice consumer service helpline saw a staggering 710 per cent increase between 2012 to 2014 in complaints about traders of slimming and health supplements taking money from people’s accounts without their informed authorisation. In almost all cases this took place after the purchase of ‘free’ trial packs of slimming products or other health supplements from online sellers.
This short note sets out the scale and nature of the issue.