I just received an email from LifeVantage Protandim distributor Peter Davidson. It asked me to go to gotoabcnews.com to learn about something that "could make a significant difference" in my life.
In going to that website, it was big advertisement for Protandim. Clearly a LifeVantage distributor registered the domain with the intention capitalizing on ABC News' trademark for their own business purposes. Clearly this wasn't a website registered by ABC News for their own purposes. The website isn't used for the purpose of discussing ABC News or any other legit use. According to GoDaddy that seems to be Mike Garrard of Macy, Indiana.
It's disappointing, but hardly suprising, that LifeVantage can't keep its distributors from breaking spam law and trademark laws.
Originally posted 2011-09-06 02:08:08.
This post involves:LifeVantage Protandim Distributors
... and focuses on:ABC News, Trademark
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September 12th, 2011 at 2:42 am
Just for fun: I have never spamed anyone in my life that has either not requested more info or is from a company I work with or is on a database that was purchased.
So better check and see who is selling your info. Further most professional people would respond asking to be removed from a mailing list. Hmmmm I wonder if the word professional is in your vocabulary. I don’t know you and I know in 40 years of mlm I have never caused anyone any grief, usually the exact opposite. So if you obviously have an agenda with regards to lifevantage, please keep your remarks directed to the company. Respectfully Peter
September 12th, 2011 at 3:00 am
Most professional people wouldn’t purchase a database of lists. If you didn’t gather the email address yourself, you can never be sure that you aren’t spamming people.
I have responded back to hundreds of people who have apparently bought one of the same databases and have not received any response. It simply isn’t worth trying anymore. The database is out there and people continue use them – perhaps this is the best way to educate people not use such databases.
The more important thing about this article was you directing people to GoToABCNews.com, which is a website designed to scam people into thinking that ABC News is a supporter of LifeVantage Protandim.
Additionally, the actions of distributors such as spamming and promoting website design to trick consumers is an extension of the LifeVantage. They need to educate their distributors that this is not acceptable behavior and will result in the termination of the LifeVantage distributorship. If they do not act, then it reflects poorly on their compliance team.
March 1st, 2012 at 12:27 pm
The standard WHOIS on that dismal offering of a website is now cloaked by Domains By Proxy, I’m guessing not because of personal threats or to feel protected, but more likely to hide away nicely.
It’s an old trick that has been done, however, Davidson should note that there are many cases like this where businesses have successfully sued site owners for abuse of trademark.
As for the database bit, it’s laughable. I did an investigation some time ago with an obviously fictitious name, found that it entered the database chain and that it was impossible to get off the list! The spam just rolled on in in ever greater quantities. In fact, each time I asked to be removed from the list the spam level doubled then tripled.
It is standard practice for computer & internet newbies to be told:
March 1st, 2012 at 12:30 pm
gotoabcnews also has:
no content
no links
It just has images with no verifying information at all, just like the “as seen on Google/Oprah/ABC/Forbes/BBC/MSNBC” scam adverts from the last few years.
Worthless pap.
March 5th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Indeed it is worthless. I just wanted to point out that Protandim distributors are illegally buying up websites such as this with the intention of tricking people.
Before anyone claims that ProtandimScams is similar to GoToABCNews, read the About page about free speech in domains. GoToABCNews is not considered a matter of free speech. It is also reasonable for the consumer to think that the domain was affiliated with ABC News in some way, where no one would think ProtandimScams is affiliated with LifeVantage or Protandim.