Business selling ‘Coronavirus Defender Patch’ accused of false claims before (27 March 2020, for {EMAIL})

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The owners of two companies that allegedly tried to profit from coronavirus fears have been accused of deceptive practices before. In April 2012, consumer advocates called out a Rockford company for claiming the technology behind its “Ionic Foot Bath” could “eliminate parasites and pinworms.” The foot bath peddler was also selling HCG weight-loss tablets, a homeopathic product against which the FDA has issued stern warnings. At the time, the Better Business Bureau Serving West Michigan confronted the company, requesting that it provide substantiation for its medical claims and remove any statements suggesting HCG leads to weight loss. “This company has a history of making medical claims about the products they sell that aren’t substantiated or backed up by medical evidence,” said Troy Baker, director of the BBB Educational Foundation, in an interview Wednesday. Baker said in May 2012, the business refused to provide any evidence supporting its medical statements or remove them from its website. Because of that, the non-profit consumer watchdog posted its concerns on the company’s page within the BBB database. 8 years later, company promotes “Coronavirus Defender Patch” Fast forward almost eight years and Michigan’s attorney general received a complaint about two Rockford businesses trying to sell a “Coronavirus Defender Patch.” The businesses, Frequency Apps, Corps and Biores Technologies, Inc., are owned by Adam Todd Petty and his wife, Sally Petty, the same couple that in 2012 was trying to sell foot baths and weight-loss pills. “I feel it is my duty to forward this email to your office, especially given the concerns regarding the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus,” wrote the person who reported the companies to the attorney general’s office. The complainant, whose name the state did not release, provided the AG with an email in which the business promoted the alleged benefits of the “Coronavirus Defender Patch.” “This company is providing misleading, unproven and likely illegal information regarding the effectiveness of their product on the virus. I am concerned this could lead purchasers to have a false sense of security and to ignore proper safety methods to prevent the spread of the virus. I hope you will be able to instruct this company to cease advertising or face penalties,” wrote the complainant to Michigan’s attorney general. AG to business: You're trying to profit from fear On Tuesday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a cease-and-desist order against the companies, alleging they made misleading and deceitful claims. “We have learned that you are marketing to consumers for sale the “Coronavirus Defender patch,” which you claim will “help aid the immune system to defend itself against exposure to the virus,” and “can help lessen the effect of the virus if you already have the COVID-19 virus,” wrote the attorney general in the order. “You have priced the patch at $49.99 but state that you may receive a 30-day supply of the patch for free when you buy a 45-day supply of any patches your companies sell. It appears you are attempting to profit from the public’s fear surrounding the coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19. We have received a complaint from a consumer…. the consumer’s concerns are well founded. Currently, there are no vaccines, drugs, or other treatments approved to prevent or treat the virus.” In the online ad for the patch, the company claimed it could prevent coronavirus or, if it’s already been contracted, treat its symptoms. “Are you looking to prevent the coronavirus?” read the promotion on the companies’ website. Ad: Already have symptoms? Wear two patches “The COVID-19 defender is designed to be used as a preventative measure against the coronavirus disease 2019. The patch is placed on the upper left side of the body (shoulder, upper left arm, left chest), and exchanged every three days. For the best results, continue to use the Defender until the likelihood of contracting the COVID-19 virus is gone. If you have already contracted the virus, the COVID-19 Defender Patch can be worn at the first sign of symptoms, wear at (sic) two patches (one on the left and one on the right) changing them every three days, continue with two patches until symptoms are no longer present.” Target 8 tried to contact Adam and Sally Petty at the Cedar Springs address they list as home. (An undated photo of Adam Petty) A man answered the door, presumably a relative, but immediately said, “I’m sorry,” and shut the door. We also tried to reach the Pettys by phone and Facebook. They have not responded. The attorney general’s office, in its letter to Adam Petty, said it’s taking steps to file a civil lawsuit against the company or commence an investigation. “Your inappropriate sales tactics are especially concerning in light of the public health emergency Michiganders face, which unfortunately cannot be simply patched up as you suggest,” wrote an assistant attorney general in the cease-and-desist letter. The AG gave Adam Petty ten days to provide the state with “assurance of voluntary compliance under the (Consumer Protection) Act. “To be acceptable to this Office, such assurances must include an agreement that you will not market or sell your “Coronavirus Defender patches” to Michigan consumers. Additionally, we are requesting that you provide our office, within ten days, contact information for all consumers that have purchased these patches from your company,” wrote the attorney general.  Frequency Apps, Inc, has apparently removed its web content. A search for its website now brings up a page that says “Maintenance mode is on. Site will be available soon. Thank you for your patience.” TRACKING CORONAVIRUS: Coronavirus FAQ | Full coverage on woodtv.com Event cancellations and public closures | Current closings and delays Free meals for kids | Free learning resources How to report price-gouging Michigan COVID-19 information | Latest updates from the CDC Daily digest [Business selling ‘Coronavirus Defender Patch’ accused of false claims before]( [Business selling ‘Coronavirus Defender Patch’ accused of false claims before]( [GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The owners of two companies that allegedly tried to profit from coronavirus fears have been accused of deceptive practices before. In April 2012, consumer advocates called out a Rockford company for claiming the technology behind its “Ionic Foot Bath” could “eliminate...]( [Golf courses close after executive order clarification]( [Golf courses close after executive order clarification]( [WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) — Many viewers have been writing the newsroom and posting on social media, asking why golf courses remain open during the governor's executive order to stay home. Are they excluded? The answer appears to be no. Several course, including the Pines Golf Course in Wyoming...]( [Kent Co. Recycling Center temporarily closes amid outbreak]( [Kent Co. Recycling Center temporarily closes amid outbreak]( [GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Kent County Recycling Center will be temporarily closing its drop-off station near Rockford and stop taking loads of recyclables due to COVID-19 concerns. The changes will start at 5 p. m. Friday. Officials say the center employs 40 people who sort recyclables. Due to...]( [GRPD: Person found in Grand River had drowned]( [GRPD: Person found in Grand River had drowned]( [GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Authorities say there are no signs of foul play concerning the body that was pulled out of the Grand River. Officers say a fisherman called police around 7 p. m. Wednesday, reporting there was a body in the river along Market Avenue in Grand Rapids. An autopsy...]( - Advertisement - Top stories [At virtual town hall, Whitmer stresses importance of staying home]( [At virtual town hall, Whitmer stresses importance of staying home]( [GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined WOOD TV8 for a virtual town hall Thursday, answering citizens’ questions from email, video calls and phone about how the state is...]( [Health department to hold COVID-19 virtual town hall]( [Health department to hold COVID-19 virtual town hall]( [GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Kent County health officials are holding a virtual town hall meeting Friday to answers your COVID-19 questions. It will be held live at 2 p. m. on the Kent County...]( [Pedestrian bridge falls onto Detroit freeway after collision]( [Pedestrian bridge falls onto Detroit freeway after collision]( [DETROIT (AP) — A truck collided with a pedestrian bridge early Friday in Detroit, sending a portion of the span onto a freeway and blocking traffic along part of the heavily traveled thoroughfare...]( [House plan on $2.2T virus relief bill hits last-minute snag]( [House plan on $2.2T virus relief bill hits last-minute snag]( [WASHINGTON (AP) — House leaders' plan for swift action on a $2. 2 trillion package to ease the coronavirus pandemic's devastating toll on the U. S. economy and health care system ran into...]( In case you missed it... [Vitamin C: Can it protect you from COVID-19?]( [Vitamin C: Can it protect you from COVID-19?]( [GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Health officials warn against taking large amounts of vitamin C as reports from New York and overseas show promising results in COVID-19 patients given high doses of the supplement. As people navigate the global pandemic, many are looking for ways to protect...]( [Holland woman to fellow Gen Zers: Take COVID-19 seriously]( [Holland woman to fellow Gen Zers: Take COVID-19 seriously]( [GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Holland resident Mia Marroquin, a junior at Saint Mary's College in South Bend, Indiana, traveled to Spain for spring break. After returning home, she tested positive for COVID-19. At 20 years old, she's putting out a warning to other young adults that coronavirus is...]( [US leads world in confirmed coronavirus cases]( [US leads world in confirmed coronavirus cases]( [NEW YORK (AP) — The United States now leads the world in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases. According to a running count by Johns Hopkins University, the number of people infected in the U. S. topped 82, 000 on Thursday. That's just ahead of the 81, 000 cases in China and 80, 000 in...]( [Deputies: Body pulled out of water in Park Township]( [Deputies: Body pulled out of water in Park Township]( [PARK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A body has been pulled out of Lake Michigan in Park Township on Thursday, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office says. They say a body was reported floating in the water around 4: 15 p. m. in the 100 block of N Lakeshore Avenue. Deputies say when they arrived, they found...]( [Feedback]( [Unsubscribe]( [About us]( © 1998-2017 woodtv.com | Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. | 120 College Ave SE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 To ensure you receive these emails in the future, please add wood@publisher-news.com to your address book, contacts or list of safe senders.