The Federal Trade Commission has been working on the Q-Ray Bracelet Scam going back to 2003, when it charged the manufacturer for making false and unsubstantiated claims about the pain-relieving abilities of its special c-shaped bracelets. Over $11.8M is being refunded.
The bracelet was advertised in 30-minute TV infomercials, where it was claimed that it was “’ionized’ through a secret process that gives it pain-relieving abilities,” according to the FTC. The FTC said the defendants “…violated the FTC Act by deceptively claiming that the Q-Ray Bracelet is a fast-acting effective treatment for various types of pain and that tests prove that the Q-Ray Bracelet relieves pain. In fact, according to the FTC, a recent study conducted by the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, shows that the Q-Ray Bracelet is no more effective than a placebo bracelet at relieving muscular and joint pain.”
The company made another unsubstantiated claim – that unhappy customers could get a full refund within 30 days. Many tried, few succeeded in that attempt.
FTC said the bracelets sold for about $50-$250. It is sending out restitution checks to 248,931 bilked Q-Ray customers with an average value of $47.
