Herbal Cancer Cure One Of 63 Scams Targeted By FTC Internet Initiative

FTC's heightened focus on Internet fraud is reflected in a spate of 63 law enforcement actions the commission filed targeting deceitful Internet claims and/or deceptive spam (unsolicited commercial email.)

Announced April 2, the actions are part of a larger initiative to combat Web-based fraud that is being undertaken by FTC in conjunction with eight state law enforcement bodies and four Canadian organizations. Included in the effort are agencies from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Alberta and British Columbia.

The effort complements other actions taken by FTC. The commission recently partnered with FDA and 30 state attorneys general to track down products fraudulently promoted online as anthrax remedies (¹ (Also see "FDA, FTC, 30 State AGs Join Forces To Combat Fraudulent Anthrax Products" - Pink Sheet, 5 Nov, 2001.), p. 3).

One of the 63 actions filed by FTC in its latest sweep involves "CWAT-Treatment: BioResonance Therapy," a product line marketed by David Walker of DLW Consulting, Inc. consisting of various dietary supplements and an electrical device called the "Molecular Enhancer."

The complaint against Walker, filed in Seattle federal court March 29, asks that "temporary and preliminary injunctive and ancillary relief" be granted "to avert the likelihood of consumer injury during the pendency of this action and to preserve the possibility of effective final relief."

FTC also asks the court to permanently enjoin Walker from violating the FTC Act and to "award such relief as...necessary to redress injury to consumers resulting from defendant's violations of the FTC Act, including the refund of monies paid and the disgorgement of ill-gotten monies."

Although the request for a preliminary injunction has not yet been granted, Walker's Web site, dlwconsulting.com, does not appear to be operating.

Sold since 1998, CWAT-Treatment was promoted on the Web site as curing "breast...colon, brain, ovarian, prostate and most all soft tissue afflictions," FTC's complaint says.

The filing notes that Walker's Web site reported a "95%+ record of success over the past 40 years" for CWAT-Treatment and contained numerous testimonials from purported cancer patients.

Some of the testimonials cited by FTC include: "Only 15 have not survived, out of over 745 to date"; and "The treatment has had better results than anything anyone has done."

The complaint states Walker charged between $2,436 and $5,220 for the treatment and his consultations.

While the Internet claims are the focus of FTC's action, the complaint additionally alleges Walker has "held in-person presentations, seminars and personal consultations for consumers nationwide."

During the presentations, Walker described CWAT-Treatment as an efficacious cancer therapy and as making "surgery, chemotherapy and other conventional cancer treatments unnecessary," FTC adds.

According to the complaint, CWAT-Treatment products include: "'Bio-X,' also known as 'Indian Mud' or 'Indian Herb'; 'Sodium Mycelle,' also referred to as 'Life Line,' 'Protoplasm Water,' or 'Catalytic Water,' a liquid that purports to contain calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, sodium, potassium, manganese, chromium, lithium and calcium carbonate...coffee enemas; and dietary supplements manufactured by Mannatech, Inc."

Among the Mannatech supplements sold by Walker were Ambrotose Complex and Phyt-Aloe . Neither of the products bear cancer claims on Mannatech's Web site.

Ambrotose is described on the site as a "blend of plant-derived carbohydrates" indicated "for optimal health and support of a healthy immune system," while Phyt-Aloe is a mixture of Ambrotose plus dehydrated fruits and vegetables designed for immune system support.

Mannatech said Walker, previously a sales associate for the company, has been terminated.

The FTC initiative against Internet fraud also included the mailing of 500 letters "warning people sending deceptive spam that it is illegal."