Deceptive Advertising

I guess faking success stories is a marketing ploy as old as the hills. And yet it frustrates me to no end to see them.

I almost choked on my Crystal Lite today while working on my article for Examiner. After hitting the publish button, I always view the page to be sure I catch any goofs. (Which are legion, but let's all pretend I'm perfect, shall we?) So I'm reviewing everything when an ad to my right catches my eye. As you may have already guessed, it's one of those random Google ads. But the before and after picture had me shaking my head in disbelief. Here's the ad (minus the website... 'cause they ain't gettin' no stinkin' free advertising from me!)



Problem #1. This "before" photo has been circulating the Internet for a good little while. I highly doubt it is truly the lady on the right before the weight loss tea.

Problem #2. Weight loss tea? Enough said.

Problem #3. See below:



See the nice pretty grey letters? Yeah. Most people miss that part. Not only is this probably not typical? It's probably not possible. Not with weight loss tea anyway. This would take serious workouts, a great diet (I suggest low-carb) and lots of time. And depending on the speed of loss, some surgery for excess skin.

Problem #4. This one probably bugs me the most. Who ever this lady is, she's being used and probably doesn't even know it. Or worse she does and can do little to stop it. At least they had the class (it's really hard to use that word with this ad) to blur her face. And yet, why blur her face if she's really the same lady in the after photo?

Ah. Things that make you go puke.

The thought had occurred to me that this woman may have been paid to pose for such a picture. If so, I hope she didn't spend it all in one place. Still, I have no doubt the ad is a fraud. Reminds me vaguely of another bunch of success stories that turned out to be fake as well. How very sad it all is.