drinkingwaterscams-hotlinetraining

7/25/2019 DrinkingWaterScams-HotlineTraining

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Drinking Water ScamsDrinking Water Scams

ByBySouthern Region Drinking Water ProgramSouthern Region Drinking Water Program

TeamTeam

Adapted byAdapted by

Kitt FarrellKitt Farrell--Poe, AZ Extension WQ SpecialistPoe, AZ Extension WQ Specialist

Southwest States & Pacific IslandsSouthwest States & Pacific Islands

CoordinatorCoordinator


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ObjectiveObjective

To make you more aware of the variousTo make you more aware of the various

types of scams associated with drinkingtypes of scams associated with drinking

water so that you can better recognize awater so that you can better recognize ascam or potential scam and know how toscam or potential scam and know how to

inform the public on how to deal with it.inform the public on 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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History of WaterHistory of Water--Related ScamsRelated Scams


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Many Scams Now InternetMany Scams Now Internet--BasedBased


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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 radiumwaterwater


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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

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 are

scamsscams

Deception by sales persons areDeception by sales persons are

scamsscams

Special formulations are oftenSpecial formulations are oftenscamsscams


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The Growing Bottled WaterThe Growing Bottled Water

IndustryIndustry


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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 many

drinks containingdrinks containing

sugar, 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 betterIt is not necessarily betterthan most tap waterthan most tap water

It is not necessarily saferIt is not necessarily saferthan most tap waterthan most tap water

Some niche uses areSome niche uses arescamsscams

It is associated with manyIt is associated with manyhealth quackery scamshealth quackery scams

It is associated with pushIt is associated with pushfor global privatizationfor global 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 water

nonsensenonsense


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More on Oxygenated WaterMore on Oxygenated Water

ScamsScamsSpecialSpecial

oxygenated andoxygenated andclustered waterclustered water

found in naturefound in nature

SuperSuper--oxygenatedoxygenatedwaterwaterjust ajust a

super scamsuper scam


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Need a Mineral Supplement,Need a Mineral Supplement,

Order it in Your Bottled WaterOrder it in Your Bottled Water

Special mineral water forSpecial mineral water for

any 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 quackery

nonsensenonsense catalystcatalystaltered wateraltered water


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Where Bottled Water is GoingWhere Bottled Water is Going

Driving interestDriving interest

in globalin global

privatization andprivatization and

internationalinternational

vending 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 purchase

treatment 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 problems.health and nuisance problems.


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Water Treatment and HealthWater Treatment and Health

Quackery ScamsQuackery Scams Devices that produceDevices that produce

oxygenated, superoxygenated, super--oxygenated,oxygenated,or antioxidant wateror antioxidant water

Devices that produce specialDevices that produce special

structurestructure--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 or

other 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 producing

water 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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Health Quackery TreatmentHealth Quackery Treatment

ScamsScams

The BioThe Bio--AlkalizerAlkalizer

for around $1500for around $1500


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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 Health

QuackeryQuackery

Blue waterBlue water revitalizerrevitalizer

((Grander effectGrander effect))

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 of

chlorination andchlorination andfluoridationfluoridation


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AntiAnti--Fluoridation MovementFluoridation 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 consumerUnscrupulous sales reps often rely on a consumerss

ignorance of water treatmentignorance of water treatment

A sales rep may even utilize Consumer ConfidenceA sales rep may even utilize Consumer ConfidenceReports 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--sitesite

demonstration tricksdemonstration tricks

Misinterpretation ofMisinterpretation of

lab 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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All New Techniques are NotAll New Techniques are Not

ScamsScams

E H M Ab


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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 us

than 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 scientificallyilliterate 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

B i Ch t i ti f D i kiB i Ch t i ti f D i ki


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Basic Characteristics of DrinkingBasic Characteristics of Drinking

Water 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 promotepseudosciencepseudoscience

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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R ti S Th hR ti S Th h


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Reporting Scams ThroughReporting Scams Through

InternetInternet

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)http://http://www.fda.gov/medwatchwww.fda.gov/medwatch

U.S. Postal ServiceU.S. Postal Servicehttp://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/

MailFraudComplaint.htmMailFraudComplaint.htm

U.S. Federal Trade CommissionU.S. Federal Trade Commission

http://http://www.consumer.govwww.consumer.gov//

F M I f iF M I f ti


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For More Information onFor More Information on

Drinking Water Scams andDrinking Water Scams andOther ScamsOther Scams

Local SourcesLocal Sources

SheriffSheriffs office, district attorneys office, district attorneys office, ors office, or

consumer protection officesconsumer protection offices Public water system representativesPublic water system representatives

County Cooperative Extension OfficesCounty Cooperative Extension Offices

F M I f tiFor More Information on


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State SourcesState Sources

Consumer protection unit of state AttorneyConsumer protection unit of state Attorney

GeneralGenerals offices office

State primacy agency that enforces theState primacy agency that enforces the

Safe Drinking Water ActSafe Drinking Water Act



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Federal SourcesFederal Sources Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC)Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC)

http://http://www.pueblo.gsa.govwww.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://http://www.consumer.govwww.consumer.gov Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water,Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water,

U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyU.S. Environmental Protection Agency

http://http://www.epa.gov/safewaterwww.epa.gov/safewater

F M I f tiF M I f ti


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Drinking Water ScamsDrinking Water Scams Over 50 Scam Links on Alabama Water QualityOver 50 Scam Links on Alabama Water Quality

Information WebsiteInformation Website

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

Reliable Internet Information on FraudReliable Internet Information on Fraud

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

Net Scams Online ProtectionNet Scams Online Protection

http://http://

www.netscams.com/scams.jspwww.netscams.com/scams.jsp

National Fraud Information CenterNational Fraud Information Center

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

Legal Information on Scams and FraudLegal Information on Scams and Fraud

http://http://www.cobrands.public.findlaw.comwww.cobrands.public.findlaw.com

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