Drinking Water Scams

8/9/2019 Drinking Water Scams

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Drinking Water ScamsDrinking Water Scams

byby

Southern Region Drinking WaterSouthern Region Drinking WaterProgram TeamProgram Team


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ObjectiveObjective

To make people more aware of theTo make people more aware of thevarious types of scams associated withvarious types of scams associated withdrinking water so that they can betterdrinking water so that they can better

recognize a scam or potential scam andrecognize a scam or potential scam and

know how to deal with it.know how to deal with it.


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What is a Drinking WaterWhat is a Drinking Water

Scam?Scam?


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Who is Susceptible to Scams?Who is Susceptible to Scams?


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Water: A Very UnusualWater: A Very UnusualSubstance and it has Held GreatSubstance and it has Held GreatMystery for Humans Since EarlyMystery for Humans Since Early

TimesTimes


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History of WaterHistory of Water--Related ScamsRelated Scams


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Many Scams Now InternetMany Scams Now Internet--BasedBased


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Snake Oil and Other QuackSnake Oil and Other Quack

Products were Real and SuchProducts were Real and SuchProducts are Still with Us TodayProducts are Still with Us Today


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Examples of Past Water ScamsExamples of Past Water Scams

Medical use of hydrotherapyMedical use of hydrotherapy Drinking radon or radiumDrinking radon or radium

waterwater


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From HotFrom Hot--Springs Therapy toSprings Therapy to

Radium and Radon WaterRadium and Radon Water


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For that Healthy Glow DrinkFor that Healthy Glow Drink

RadiationRadiation


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Radon or Radium WaterRadon or Radium Water

DevicesDevices


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Radium Water from PillsRadium Water from Pills


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Radon Water from LiquidRadon Water from Liquid

ConcentrateConcentrate


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First Bottled Water ScamFirst Bottled Water Scam


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Modern Day Drinking WaterModern Day Drinking Water

ScamsScams

Bottled water scamsBottled water scams

Health quackery scamsHealth quackery scams

Water treatment scamsWater treatment scams

Water testing scamsWater testing scams

Water supply scamsWater supply scams


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Bottled Water Industry andBottled Water Industry and

Associated ScamsAssociated Scams

All bottled water is not a scamAll bottled water is not a scam

Fraudulent vendor claims areFraudulent vendor claims arescamsscams

Deception by sales persons areDeception by sales persons arescamsscams

Special formulations are oftenSpecial formulations are oftenscamsscams


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The Bottled Water IndustryThe Bottled Water Industry


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The Growing Bottled WaterThe Growing Bottled Water

IndustryIndustry


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New Bottled WaterNew Bottled Water

PromotionsPromotions

DesignerDesigner

LabelingLabeling


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Bottled WaterBottled Waterthe Goodthe Good It is convenient andIt is convenient and

portableportable

It is a good diet drinkIt is a good diet drink

Healthier than manyHealthier than manydrinks containingdrinks containingsugar, caffeine andsugar, caffeine andother additivesother additives

Fits special nichesFits special niches(some are scams)(some are scams)


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Bottled WaterBottled Waterthe Badthe Bad

It is very expensive inIt is very expensive incomparison to tap watercomparison to tap water

It is not necessarily better thanIt is not necessarily better thanmost tap watermost tap water

It is not necessarily safer thanIt is not necessarily safer thanmost tap watermost tap water

Some niche uses are scamsSome niche uses are scams

It is associated with many healthIt is associated with many healthquackery scamsquackery scams

It is associated with push forIt is associated with push forglobal privatizationglobal privatization


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Bottled Water and HealthBottled Water and Health

QuackeryQuackery Bottled water is tied to many healthBottled water is tied to many health

quackery scamsquackery scams StructureStructure--altered or clustered wateraltered or clustered water

Special oxygenated forms of waterSpecial oxygenated forms of water

Specialized mineral watersSpecialized mineral waters

Alkaline, ionic or ionized waterAlkaline, ionic or ionized water

Special energized forms of waterSpecial energized forms of water

Treated with magnetismTreated with magnetism

Treated with some form of lightTreated with some form of light

Treated with sound wavesTreated with sound waves

Treated with electricity in some wayTreated with electricity in some way

Treated with a special catalystTreated with a special catalyst

Naturally occurring (some remoteNaturally occurring (some remotearea)area)


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Bottled Water Health QuackeryBottled Water Health Quackery

ScamsScams

Oxygenated waterOxygenated waternonsensenonsense


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More on Oxygenated WaterMore on Oxygenated Water

ScamsScams

SpecialSpecialoxygenated andoxygenated andclustered waterclustered waterfound in naturefound in nature


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More Oxygenated Bottled WaterMore Oxygenated Bottled Water

ScamsScams

SuperSuper--oxygenatedoxygenatedwaterwater just ajust asuper scamsuper scam


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Need a Mineral Supplement,Need a Mineral Supplement,O

rder it in Your Bottled WaterO

rder it in Your Bottled Water

Special mineral water forSpecial mineral water forany element you desireany element you desire


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Other Bottled Water ScamsOther Bottled Water Scams

Water for special nichesWater for special niches(some are scams)(some are scams)


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Other Bottled Water ScamsOther Bottled Water Scams

More health quackeryMore health quackerynonsensenonsensecatalystcatalystaltered wateraltered water


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Where Bottled Water is GoingWhere Bottled Water is Going

Driving interest inDriving interest inglobal privatizationglobal privatizationand internationaland internationalvending salesvending sales


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Two Categories of WaterTwo Categories of Water

Treatment ScamsTreatment Scams

1. Those convincing consumers to purchase1. Those convincing consumers to purchasetreatment devices that do not worktreatment devices that do not work

2. Those convincing consumers to purchase2. Those convincing consumers to purchasetreatment devices they do not needtreatment devices they do not need

There are scams associated with remedying bothThere are scams associated with remedying bothhealth and nuisance problemshealth and nuisance problems


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Water Treatment and HealthWater Treatment and Health

Quackery ScamsQuackery Scams Devices that produce oxygenated,Devices that produce oxygenated,

supersuper--oxygenated or antioxidantoxygenated or antioxidantwaterwater

Devices that produce specialDevices that produce specialstructurestructure--altered or specialaltered or specialclustered waterclustered water

Devices that produce alkaline orDevices that produce alkaline or

ionic forms of waterionic forms of water Devices that produce water withDevices that produce water with

some special form of energy orsome special form of energy orother magical propertiesother magical properties


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OxyOxy--Plus Water TreatmentPlus Water Treatment

DevicesDevices


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Bottled Water or TreatmentBottled Water or Treatment

Device Health Quackery ScamsDevice Health Quackery Scams


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Health Quackery TreatmentHealth Quackery Treatment

ScamsScams

Devices for producingDevices for producingwater with microwater with micro--clustersclusters


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Ionic Devices/Alkaline WaterIonic Devices/Alkaline Water


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Ionizer for the FaucetIonizer for the Faucet


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ScamsScams

The BioThe Bio--AlkalizerAlkalizerfor around $1500for around $1500


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ScamsScams

There are severalThere are several

opinions as to justopinions as to justwhat biowhat bio--water is.water is.The main thing isThe main thing isthat it is a scam.that it is a scam.


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More Water Treatment NonsenseMore Water Treatment Nonsense

The magic ofThe magic ofmagnetismmagnetism

Catalyst alteredCatalyst altered

waterwater


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Magnetic Water TreatmentMagnetic Water Treatment

NonsenseNonsense


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More Pseudoscience HealthMore Pseudoscience HealthQuackeryQuackery

Blue water revitalizerBlue water revitalizer

The silver water kitThe silver water kit


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Specially Energized WaterSpecially Energized Water


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Other HealthOther Health--Related WaterRelated Water

Treatment ScamsTreatment Scams

Scare Tactics:Scare Tactics:

The hazards ofThe hazards ofchlorination andchlorination andfluoridationfluoridation


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Anti Fluoridation MovementAnti Fluoridation Movement


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NuisanceNuisance--Related WaterRelated Water

Treatment ScamsTreatment Scams Often associated with water testing scamsOften associated with water testing scams Treatment needs are often misrepresented on theTreatment needs are often misrepresented on the

InternetInternet Unscrupulous sales reps often rely on a consumersUnscrupulous sales reps often rely on a consumers

ignorance of water treatmentignorance of water treatment A sales rep may even utilize Consumer ConfidenceA sales rep may even utilize Consumer Confidence

Reports to aid in selling treatment devicesReports to aid in selling treatment devices Installed treatment systems can sometimes causeInstalled treatment systems can sometimes cause

problemsproblems

Very expensive treatment systems may come with anVery expensive treatment systems may come with anexpensive maintenance agreement or no maintenanceexpensive maintenance agreement or no maintenanceagreement at allagreement at all


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Three Types of Water TestingThree Types of Water Testing

ScamsScams

OnOn--sitesitedemonstration tricksdemonstration tricks

Misinterpretation ofMisinterpretation oflab test resultslab test results

Fake lab test resultsFake lab test results


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Magnetic Water Conditioners forMagnetic Water Conditioners for

Treating Scale and Hard WaterTreating Scale and Hard Water


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Reducing Cluster Size to PreventReducing Cluster Size to Prevent

ScalingScaling


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Many Water Treatment DevicesMany Water Treatment DevicesWork FineWork Fine

Filtration through someFiltration through some

media, and moremedia, and morerecently, through porousrecently, through porousmembranes with ormembranes with orwithout added pressure,without added pressure,

is the technique mostis the technique mostused in water treatment.used in water treatment.


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Water Softening vs.Water Softening vs.

Water ConditioningWater Conditioning


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All New Techniques are NotAll New Techniques are Not

ScamsScams


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SupplySupply--Related Water ScamsRelated Water Scams

Water locating scamsWater locating scams

Rain making scamsRain making scamsWell drilling scamsWell drilling scams

Water privatization scamsWater privatization scams


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Dowsing: Does it ReallyDowsing: Does it Really

Work?Work?


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Jokes About Water WitchingJokes About Water Witching


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Rain Dancing and RainRain Dancing and Rain

MakingMaking


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Cloud Seeding is not a Scam butCloud Seeding is not a Scam but

Does not Always WorkDoes not Always Work


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Most Well Drilling Today is not aMost Well Drilling Today is not aScamScam


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Water is the Most ImportantWater is the Most Important

Substance on EarthSubstance on Earth

All life as we know it depends on water.All life as we know it depends on water.

Celestial search for life is a search for water.Celestial search for life is a search for water.


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Limited Freshwater SupplyLimited Freshwater Supply

Driving PrivatizationDriving Privatization


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Expect to Hear More AboutExpect to Hear More About

Privatization in the FuturePrivatization in the Future


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Why Drinking Water Scams WorkWhy Drinking Water Scams Work

Because survival is more important to usBecause survival is more important to usthan truth, logic and reasonthan truth, logic and reason

Because we are prone to be superstitiousBecause we are prone to be superstitious

and use irrational thinkingand use irrational thinking Because many people are scientificallyBecause many people are scientifically

illiterate and cannot tell the differenceilliterate and cannot tell the differencebetween science and pseudosciencebetween science and pseudoscience

Because science education does notBecause science education does notequilibrate to logical and critical thinkingequilibrate to logical and critical thinking


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Basic Characteristics of DrinkingBasic Characteristics of DrinkingWater ScamsWater Scams

Like most scams, they sound too good to be trueLike most scams, they sound too good to be true

They are not based on clear proven scientific principlesThey are not based on clear proven scientific principles

They have no peerThey have no peer--reviewed reputable support literaturereviewed reputable support literature They have testimonials from crackpots who promoteThey have testimonials from crackpots who promote

pseudosciencepseudoscience

They have fake testimonials from satisfied customersThey have fake testimonials from satisfied customers

There is pressure to purchase or invest immediatelyThere is pressure to purchase or invest immediately


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Where to Report Drinking WaterWhere to Report Drinking Water

ScamsScams Any type of scamAny type of scam

Report to local sheriffReport to local sheriff

Report to state attorney general officeReport to state attorney general office

False health and product labelingFalse health and product labeling Report to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Report to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Fraudulent mailFraudulent mail Report to U.S. Postal ServiceReport to U.S. Postal Service

Fraudulent marketingFraudulent marketing Report to U.S. Federal Trade CommissionReport to U.S. Federal Trade Commission


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Reporting Scams ThroughReporting Scams ThroughInternetInternet

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

http://www.fda.gov/medwatchhttp://www.fda.gov/medwatch

U.S. Postal ServiceU.S. Postal Service

http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/Maihttp://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/Mai

lFraudComplaint.htmlFraudComplaint.htm

U.S. Federal Trade CommissionU.S. Federal Trade Commissionhttp://www.consumer.gov/http://www.consumer.gov/


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For More Information onFor More Information on

Drinking Water Scams andDrinking Water Scams andOther ScamsOther Scams

Local SourcesLocal Sources

Sheriffs office, district attorneys office orSheriffs office, district attorneys office orconsumer protection officesconsumer protection offices

Public water system representativesPublic water system representatives

County Cooperative Extension OfficesCounty Cooperative Extension Offices


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For More Information onFor More Information onDrinking Water Scams andDrinking Water Scams and

Other ScamsOther Scams

State SourcesState Sources

Consumer protection unit of state attorneyConsumer protection unit of state attorneygenerals officegenerals office

State primacy agency that enforces theState primacy agency that enforces theSafe Drinking Water ActSafe Drinking Water Act


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For More Information onFor More Information onDrinking Water Scams andDrinking Water Scams and

Other ScamsOther Scams

Federal SourcesFederal Sources

Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC)Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC)

http://www.pueblo.gsa.govhttp://www.pueblo.gsa.gov

Bureau of Consumer Protection of the U.S.Bureau of Consumer Protection of the U.S.Federal Trade CommissionFederal Trade Commission

http://www.consumer.govhttp://www.consumer.gov

Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water,Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water,U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyU.S. Environmental Protection Agencyhttp://www.epa.gov/safewaterhttp://www.epa.gov/safewater


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For More Information onFor More Information onDrinking Water ScamsDrinking Water Scams

Over50 Scam Links on Alabama Water Quality Information WebsiteOver50 Scam Links on Alabama Water Quality Information Website

http://www.aces.edu/waterquality/links/links_list_sub.php3?Code=138http://www.aces.edu/waterquality/links/links_list_sub.php3?Code=138

Reliable Internet Information on FraudReliable Internet Information on Fraud

Consumer Fraud Watch NetworkConsumer Fraud Watch Networkhttp://www.consumersgroup.com/crimewatchhttp://www.consumersgroup.com/crimewatch

Net Scams Online ProtectionNet Scams Online Protection

http://www.netscams.com/scams.jsphttp://www.netscams.com/scams.jsp

National Fraud Information CenterNational Fraud Information Center

http://www.fraud.org/http://www.fraud.org/

Legal Information on Scams and FraudLegal Information on Scams and Fraudhttp://www.cobrands.public.findlaw.comhttp://www.cobrands.public.findlaw.com

Date post:	30-May-2018
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Drinking Water Scams

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