Dr Oz Is Taking Back His Name
Have you been duped by a marketing scam using Dr Oz’s name? Dr Oz learned how easy it is for unscrupulous companies and marketers to mislead you and take your money. Next, he wanted to talk with his audience. Everyone in the audience said they had seen ads using Dr Oz’s name or picture online.
Jessica told Dr Oz that she got emails on her phone selling beauty products. She showed him the ads, and he was appalled by the implications of this for his loyal viewers. He said if it’s confusing him, he knows it must be confusing viewers as well.
Dr Oz said a quick web search turned up thousands of unauthorized Dr Oz products made him realize he needed to take action. He reached out to some leading websites to find out why they were letting this happen to their users.
Dr Oz: Facebook & Amazon Scams
Dr Oz explained how you can help him prevent online and retail scams with Oz Watch. (lev radin / Shutterstock.com)
The Dr Oz Show’s legal team reported infringing users to Facebook and Amazon, and contacted the companies by phone directly to follow up. Here is what the companies had to say.
Facebook statement:
[We] have already asked our team to search for fake accounts and pages that may be using the Dr Oz name and we will make sure that these pages are escalated accordingly. Facebook respects the intellectual property rights of others and is committed to helping third parties, including Dr Oz, protect their rights.
Amazon statement:
The items to which you refer were posted by third party merchants without prior review by Amazon.com. Please be advised that we are in the process of removing the items you identified.
Dr Oz said one more time that he doesn’t endorse any products, so if you see him on eBay, Facebook, or Amazon, you’re being misled.
Dr Oz: How To Report Dr Oz Scams
Dr Oz talked with Sree about what else he can do to stop the misuse of his name. Sree said consumers should go through the site’s process to report a problem. Take note of the website address and send it to Facebook, Amazon, or another website to prevent fraudulent products.
Doctor Oz: How Retail Stores Are Ripping You Off
This problem is happening online, but it’s also going on in retail stores around the country. Dr Oz met Lori, an audience member who is trying to manage her health. She said she has seen supplements and countless other products with Dr Oz’s name and face on them. She has bought many products, and she even brought in a photo of a Dr Oz display in her local store. Lori admitted she hasn’t vetted the products she buys to see if Dr Oz has discussed them.
Dr Oz said he could tell she was being genuine, and she has been misled. Many other audience members said they have seen Dr Oz ads in person.
Dr Oz: Store Owner Uses Dr Oz Photos
Mike, a store owner, bravely agreed to come on the show and explain why stores use this sales tactic. He said that customers watch the show and come in to ask about the products they’ve seen.
He said that he and his staff use the Dr Oz website to help consumers find the products they are looking for.
“We only deal with reputable companies that carry the exact thing that you recommend from your site and your show, and that’s what we recommend to our customers,” Mike said. “We’re trying to promote your show and help the customers get healthy with the recommendations that you make.”
Dr Oz: How To Find Dr Oz Recommended Products
That sounds quite reasonable, actually, but I’m sure not every store owner is that scrupulous. Mike admitted that there are some bad apples, but stood firm that his store does the right thing.
Dr Oz wanted to talk about the overall marketplace, and Mike agreed that there is plenty of opportunity for abuse. Mike said he tells customers to consult with their own doctors as well, and said they rely on Dr Oz’s official website to back up his advice and suggestions.
Mike said they even promote the website to his customers. Dr Oz said you have to be careful about what you buy, because some products could be ineffective and dangerous.
Oz Watch: Help Dr Oz Prevent Scams
This year, Dr Oz has a new policy on products featured in his talk show and on his website. He has decided to no longer use brand name products. In cases where products are sponsored, he vowed to personally do the research before recommending them.
“This trust that you put in me is sacred,” he said.
Dr Oz said he is starting Oz Watch, an initiative on his official website to help viewers and consumers report scams using his name and image. Dr Oz showed the homepage of his website (which is crazy because it’s already outdated; he launched a redesign last week, so this is sure to confuse people) so you know what to look for when shopping for products.
What do you think about the Dr Oz scams that are out there? Have they ever affected you?
at 10:11 pm
I reported the illegal use of your name and photo at the health food store that I shop at last week. Imagine my surprise when I went today and saw the ad and photo on the shelf as before, I have sent the link with the photo I took on my phone and I only hope that this time someone will take them to task. Thank you. /Users/chaidivv/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Masters/2013/01/22/20130122-170752/IMG_0865.jpg