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The "Winner"...
Thomas Gilles
President CEO of Bod-eshop Health Network
Tom Gilles’s email
My first encounter with Thomas Gilles was his April 24, 2004 email to me. Below are the contents of Mr. Gilles’s ungrammatical email, exactly as I received it:
“Greetings,
My name is Tom Gilles and i publish consumer watch websites.i ran across your web page and found some of the information concerning the good 'dr'
very interesting. I was wondering if there was any new information, or if i could possibly obtain some sort of official documentation about the history and claims of greg cynaumon. i would be most interested in knowing how to verify his education, his work history or where he may have made false claims and how it can be demonstrated that he made those claims. Any assistance would be most helpful to me and my audience.Thanks in advance,
Tom Gilles”
His inarticulate email piqued my interest and I asked him the name of his web site. His response was,
“The site I am putting together is dietpillsrevealed.com. It is under construction at the moment.
Tom G”
I have learned to become suspicious when people write and ask for inside information. Then I looked at the web address in his email www.mountaintopherbs.com. If you hit that link it actually goes to http://www.bod-eshop.com/company.php. Instead of www.dietpillsrevealed.com as he states, you go to his company: Mr. Tom Gilles is the President CEO of the bod-eshop.com. Also, if you follow other information on his web site, it appears that he has a connected company Alpine Cosmeceuticals.
Some of Tom Gilles’s products
A review of bod-eshop.com shows products in the following categories (the links are active):
- Breast Enlargement
- Cholesterol
- Coral Calcium
- Gout Relief
- General Health
- Hair Loss
- Hemorrhoids
- HGH
- Joint Health
- MSM
- Quit Smoking
- Sexual Enhancement
- Stress Relief
- Weight Loss
His products are cheaper knock-offs of popular supplements with similar names. For example, a popular (but unproven) supplement is Ultimate HGH, which sells for $59.95. Gilles’s company has two products with a HGH label: Essential HGH for $39.95 and HGH Factor for $19.95.
An important question is, “Do these products work?” Some products really don’t include claims that they work. This brings up the question, “Why buy them if these products don’t claim to work?”
Other products include outrageous claims. For example, the product Bust Plus includes the following information:
Have you wanted to get a Breast Enlargment (sic)
Bust Plust (sic) works within the realm of your natural system, creating the environment for change from within. The effect is something like you originally experienced during puberty. Your body will experience a reawakening of sorts, to rejuvenate the youthful processes in you. This creates a natural enviroment (sic) to allow for a breast enlargement…In addition to superb breast enlargement results women are now experiencing healthier:
- skin
- hair
- nails
- improved mood
- increased libido
- decreased PMS symptoms
- and much more...”
I doubt that there is research evidence for these claims.
In another example, the company adds a short disclaimer at the end of their promise-filled product description:
CUTTING GEL™ Transdermal Muscle Defining Compound
________________________________________
Fact: Cutting Gel Gets Rid of Surface Body Fat!
Cutting Gel is a one of a kind, patented, transdermal gel that penetrates deep into the skin and dissolves your stubborn body fat on contact. That's right! Cutting Gel is a clinically proven, transdermal gel that dissolves surface body fat everywhere its applied! Cutting Gel is finally available in the United States in full clinical strength, without a prescription, and without embarrassing doctor's visits.
Fact: Cutting Gel is a Clinically Proven Patented Formula!
Cutting Gel is a clinically proven, patented formula and is the only transdermal fat-emulsifying gel designed exclusively for bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts. NutraSport distributes Cutting Gel within the United States under exclusive license from Klein-Becker USA. Cutting Gel helps sets you apart from everyone else in the gym and gives you that extra edge. Best of all, Cutting Gel gives you the confidence you need to get ahead and stay ahead as you finally experience the attention a great body demands!"So what's the catch?
There are two. First, because Cutting Gel helps release stored fat into the bloodstream to be consumed as energy, you have to help burn that released fat by getting exercise or reducing caloric intake so that free fat won't be redeposited.
Second, you can't rub Cutting Gell (sic) all over your body at one time. Your body can't deal with that much fat Cutting Gel releases.
So begin with the one area you think needs the most help, and use Cutting Gel until you get the desired results (usually about 10 days).
Results usually in about 10 days? But then the company's disclaimer:
“No Cutting Gel reviews available at this time. *These statements about Cutting Gel have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Cutting Gel is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
What are they saying? First, the description says, "Cutting Gel is a clinically proven, transdermal gel that dissolves surface body fat everywhere its applied!," but then they say that there are "No Cutting Gel reviews available at this time." How can something be "proven" without having "reviews available"?"
Products in possible violations of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rulings
Some of Gilles’s products appear to be in violation of Federal Trade Commission rulings. The Federal Trade Commission made the following January 22, 2004 ruling http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/01/barefoot.htm against the makers of “Coral Calcium Supreme”:
“Under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, Robert Barefoot, Deonna Enterprises, Inc., and Karbo Enterprises, Inc. are prohibited from making claims that the dietary supplement ‘Coral Calcium Supreme’ or any other coral calcium product can treat or cure cancer, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other serious diseases.”
Now look at the claims about their knock-off product Complete Coral Calcium http://www.bod-eshop.com/details/index.php/5460:
"Experience the benefits of Coral Calcium!
If you suffer from any of these life-threatening diseases coral calcium may help you!
----------------------
Arthritis
Alzheimer's Disease
Cancer
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Diabetes
Eczema
Fibromyalgia
Gallstones
Gout
Heart Disease
Headaches
Hiatal Hernia
High Blood Pressure
High Cholesterol
Hypertension
Indigestion
Kidney stones
Leg Cramps
Lupus
Muscle Cramps
Osteoporosis
Sleeplessness”
Based on the previously cited FTC ruling, it appears that Mr. Giles’s company may be in violation of that agency’s ruling.
Why did Tom Gilles contact me?
The question is, “Why did Mr. Gilles contact me?” Mr. Gilles may have wanted inside information because he was creating a less-expensive knock-off of CortiSlim. A bottle of CortiSlim costs $49.95. The www.bod-eshop.com knock-off product is “Lipocort Cortisol Control Formula with added Carb Blocker” for $34.95. The ad http://www.bod-eshop.com/details/index.php/6669 says that it
“Controls Hormone Cortisol
Controls Insulin Levels
Stimulates Metaoblisim (sic)
Blocks carbohydrates
Helps control appetite”
He has no proof behind those statements.
The FTC has sent warning letters to companies who make unproven cortisol claims http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/windowrock/041005ltrwindowrock.pdf. Mr. Gilles appears to be ignoring that FTC warning letter.
The bottom line – Does Mr. Gilles’s products work?
On his web site, Mr. Gilles has many products with and without advertising claims. I emailed him this simple question “Do you have any research proof that any of your products actually work?” He has not responded to me. Others have emailed the same question. My Gilles has not responded to their requests for information. The customer warning “buyer beware” seems appropriate for Mr. Gilles’s products.
What can you do?
Call Mr. Gilles (1-888-426-4584) or email him at tag@mountaintopherbs.com and ask for evidence.
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission if you think that Mr. Gilles is guilty of false advertising (http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm).
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