WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Nov. 14 that a U.S. district court judge issued a summary decision and $30 million judgment against the Nicholas Scott Congleton, the pitchman behind a product known as Pure Green Coffee Extract.
Congleton allegedly had been deceiving consumers through false weight-loss claims, bogus testimonials and fake news websites.
Congleton allegedly conducted his deceptive marketing scheme for Pure Green Coffee through NPB Advertising Inc. and a web of other companies under his control.
The FTC first took action against the Florida-based NPB Advertising in 2014. The commission charged the defendants with deceptive marketing to capitalize on the green coffee bean diet fad, which had gained notoriety on the “The Dr. Oz. Show.” The scheme included using mastheads on fictitious news outlets, along with logos from actual news sites, to attempt to trick consumers.
“As this case shows, the FTC is willing to go the distance make sure that defendants like these are held accountable,” said Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Jessica Rich. “We’re pleased that the court has put an end to Congleton’s deceptive scheme.”
In addition to the monetary fine, Congleton has been banned from deceptive advertising practices.