FTC Refunding Purchasers of Kevin Trudeau’s ‘Weight Loss Cure’

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The Federal Trade Commission is reportedly issuing refund checks totaling close to $6.3 million to consumers who purchased “The Weight Loss Cure ‘They’ Don’t Want You To Know About” by Kevin Trudeau.

Hundreds of thousands of people may be eligible for refunds. If you receive a check, you must cash it by Aug. 25, 2016.

The FTC filed a lawsuit against Trudeau alleging that he made false claims about his book “The Weight Loss Cure” in infomercials that ran between December 2006 and November 2007.

The infomercials reportedly featured Trudeau making statements such as “I can attest, it was the easiest, simplest, most effective thing I’ve ever done” and “And when you’re done with the protocol, eat whatever you want and you don’t gain the weight back.”

According to the FTC lawsuit, the book actually describes a complicated and expensive weight loss program that involves daily injections, food restrictions, cleanses and supplements. The so-called “easy” weight loss program also reportedly includes a “fourth phase” that mandates dietary restrictions and never ends, contradicting his claims that consumers can eat whatever they want without gaining weight after completing the protocol.

A federal court ruled that Trudeau’s infomercials promoting “The Weight Loss Cure” constituted false advertising and violated the law. In 2009, the court ordered Trudeau to issue refunds to many consumers who purchased the book.

Although the court ordered Trudeau to issue more than $37 million in refunds to consumers, Trudeau has allegedly refused to tell the court where his money is. Therefore, consumers may not receive a full refund for the price they paid for the book. If more money becomes available from Trudeau in the future, the FTC may send out additional refund checks to consumers who cashed the first check.

Trudeau has been held in contempt of court on several occasions. A district court ruled that he was in contempt of court for making false claims about “The Weight Loss Cure” book. He was also held in contempt of court twice for allegedly hiding the money that was intended to refund purchasers of the book. He is currently serving a 10-year sentence in federal prison for making false claims about the book.

“For years, Trudeau fought the FTC’s efforts to collect the money he owes consumers, including repeatedly denying that he had any money and hindering efforts to find his money,” the FTC said in a statement. “During one court proceeding, he ‘took the fifth’ hundreds of times rather than answer questions about where his money was. At one point, the judge jailed Trudeau for not cooperating. Eventually, a court—appointed receiver located a portion of the money, which the FTC is now using to partially repay consumers.”

The FTC notes that it will never require consumers to pay money or provide financial information to receive a refund check. If you have questions about the FTC lawsuit or a refund check, you may call 1-844-828-4437.

The FTC Kevin Trudeau False Advertising Lawsuit is Federal Trade Commission v. Kevin Trudeau, Case No. 1:03-cv-03904, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.

UPDATE: August 2017, the FTC started mailing out a second round of checks to consumers who purchased Kevin Trudeau’s book. If you have any questions regarding your payment, please call 1-844-828-4437.