Kevin Trudeau Fraud or Consumer Advocate?

Kevin Trudeau is well known amongst television and news headlines. You may have even seen him by scanning the channels looking for something to watch. He's often part of infomercials late at night promoting his latest books. Some of these ads includes panels of women, including Playboy playmates, who've assembled to discuss unknown ways to reduce your debt, or natural remedies for health ailments. Trudeau has become rich in many ways, including his latest entrepreneurial endeavors as a consumer advocate author, pitching his books via infomercials. The jury's always been out on whether or not Kevin Trudeau is an entrepreneur or fraud though, due to some of the claims he's made within his various books. In fact, Kevin has already been convicted of fraud and larceny in the early 90's, and the Federal Trade Commission has repeatedly had lawsuits against him. This article will give some background on Kevin Trudeau, his products, conviction, lawsuits and other history.

Kevin Trudeau's age is 46 years old as of this writing and he grew up in Lynn, Massachusetts. Ironically he was voted most likely to succeed in his high school class, but went on to serve time for criminal activity in the 90's. In the year 1990, Trudeau had posed as a doctor so he could deposit $80,000 in fake checks, then plead guilty to larceny in 1991. Trudeau had also swindled customers who bought his mega-memory product via credit card. Kevin used the credit cards to run up over $100,000 in charges.

He partnered with his cellmate from prison to join a multi-level marketing company (MLM) called Nutrition for Life. Trudeau and his business associate were quite successful, until they were sued by Illinois and seven other states for running an alleged pyramid scheme. Trudeau along with his company settled with all states for $185,000.

After his criminal activity and lawsuits, Trudeau began his infomercial career, as he produced and starred in the 30 minute or so advertisements. These included all sorts of products such as dietary health supplements, ways to break your addictions, real estate investment guides and a memory-improvement course. These ads were frequently seen late nights on television and began to bring Trudeau more revenue. Trudeau was again hit by the FTC's, as they fined him for making inaccurate representations and claims in his ads. An out of court settlement saw Trudeau agree not to use infomercials to promote products, as well as settling for $2 million. The large settlement was due to claims in his Natural Cures that a coral calcium product could actually cure cancer, and that Biotape could cure or reduce severe pain.

Kevin claims that his early criminal charges for stealing other people's money and his prison time inspired him to change his ways and to do things to help people. His most recent legal troubles came in 2007, again as the FTC went after him for making exaggerated claims. This time it was for his book "Weight Loss Cure", as Kevin claimed it included an easy to follow system for weight loss. However, the book's weight loss plan was more complex than he made it sound, including the use of a daily drug injection. Trudeau was forced to pay millions in royalties he had received from the sales of the book in a settlement for consumers.

Since Trudeau could not promote products via infomercials he began to write and sell books via infomercials instead. Books were not part of the list of products Kevin was banned from promoting. Most of his titles include "They Don't Want You to Know About", usually referring to the federal government, health care industry, banks, or various agencies. Trudeau's health publications include:

"Natural Cures They Don't Want You to Know About" (2005)

"The Weight-Loss Cure They Don't Want You to Know About" (2007)

Trudeau's Natural Cures was a New York Times bestseller for about 25 weeks, and sold more than five million copies. The book gives home remedies and natural cures that supposedly create everything from acid reflux disease to Multiple Sclerosis. It was also the source of the aforementioned 2007 lawsuit from the FTC which went after Trudeau for making several exaggerated and inaccurate claims.

Kevin Trudeau's latest books are "Debt Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About", which discusses ways consumers can eliminate their various debts, and "Free Money They Don't Want You to Know About". In Kevin Trudeau's Free Money, he claims to provide consumers and average Americans with all sorts of free government funds or money that is available simply by completing applications. In his "Free Money" infomercial he tells viewers who order they'll receive "Debt Cures" and another pamphlet free of charge.

The jury's obviously been back and forth on Kevin Trudeau. While he has settled numerous lawsuits, it seems as if he has a history of promoting books or methods with exaggerated or even inaccurate claims. There's been plenty of consumer complaints lodged against Trudeau as well, so you are always at risk if you choose to purchase any of his products full price from the infomercials.