FTC Sending $1.8M In AuraVie Refunds

The Federal Trade Commission recently announced that they will be sending $1.8 million in AuraVie refunds to those who purchased the company’s beauty products.

According to the agency, AuraVie tricked consumers into enrolling in a skincare program that charged monthly fees.

AuraVie refunds will be issued to those who signed up for the so-called risk-free trial offered by the company to test out its products, including:

• Auravie
• Dellure
• LéOR Skincare
• Miracle Face Kit

The FTC says that 79,771 refund checks will be mailed. Each check will be for approximately $22.95.

In 2015, the FTC accused AuraVie of using a “negative option plan” to underhandedly enroll victims enticed by a trial the company marketed as “risk-free.” Instead of getting to try AuraVie products for free, consumers were duped out of their credit and debit card numbers and slapped with a monthly fee, charged the agency.

“Specifically, Defendants offer ‘risk-free’ trials of skincare products to consumers nationwide through online banners, pop-up advertisements, and websites. Defendants require consumers who accept the ‘risk-free’ trials to provide their credit or debit card billing information, purportedly to pay nominal shipping and handling fees to receive the advertised products. However, 10 days after receiving consumers’ billing information, Defendants charge consumers the full costs of the products included in the ‘risk-free’ trials, imposing charges of up to $97.88 onto consumers’ credit or debit cards,” the AuraVie lawsuit states.

AuraVie also made canceling the charges and getting out of the program very difficult for consumers, contended the agency. The conditions to cancel membership in the AuraVie skincare program were onerous and not fully disclosed, said the agency’s complaint.

The FTC accused AuraVie of tricking consumers out of millions of dollars in this nationwide auto-renewal scam. According to the agency, the defendants, totaling 33 companies and individuals, also misrepresented themselves as accredited by the Better Business Bureau as well.

The FTC charged a number of companies and individuals for perpetrating the AuraVie scam, including Paul Medina, Oz Mizrahi, Motti Nottea, Roi Reuveni, Alon Nottea, Doron Nottea, Igor Latsanovski, CalEnergy, Inc., Adageo, LLC, Zen Mobile Media, Inc., Secured Merchants and Secured Commerce, LLC.

The defendants entered into two separate settlements with the agency and are barred from future deceptive marketing practices. As a result of the agreements, says the FTC, most of the defendants will have to disgorge a majority of their assets.

“The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, wants you to know that some companies use free trials to sign you up for more products — sometimes lots of products — which can cost you lots of money as they bill you every month until you cancel,” states an article posted on the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Information website.

The FTC urges consumers who suspect they have been duped by an unscrupulous company to report them to the agency.

AuraVie refunds were sent out starting Nov. 21, 2019. Consumers must deposit their AuraVie refunds within 60 days.

Those with questions regarding the refund may contact the administrator Rust Consulting at 1-866-801-0473.

Did you get an AuraVie refund check? Tell us more in the comments below!

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