Warning: More Fake Fastin Phentermine Supplements?

Fastin 30 mg–blue-and-clear capsules with blue and white beads is No longer manufactured!  That’s right the controlled drugs Fastin is no longer available and has been discontinued!

While, Fastin-Direct.com features Fastin, a name that is identical to the prescription drug Fastin a former branded phentermine drug but in reality is nothing more than an over the counter herbal supplement.  While Fastin-Direct.com is clever in its design to look and feel as if it is an online pharmacy, and even features the signature blue/white colors of the controlled drug Phentermine, its ingredients reveal nothing more than a common supplement.

Other fake Fastin phentermine ripoffs?

Fastin-Direct.com
NetNutri.com

Consumers explain that these sites are deceptive, so much so that you think you are clicking on a pharmacy website to order the real Fastin branded phentermine diet drug.  In many of these fake Fastin branded phentermine sites, likely misleading descriptions like pharmaceutical or appetite suppressant or 37.5 mg of blue/white in color are used.  When these products are nothing more than over the counter herbal supplements! 

Consumers report that when visiting netnutri, the distributor explained that  “Fastin is (ß-methyl-phenethylamine) 37.5mg derived from an herbal source… It is NOT Phentermine HCL”   IT IS NOT PHENTERMINE!
Fastin a former King Pharmacuticals trademark owned brand name, was  aquired by Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, and clearly is a new herbal supplement version and not the actual drug Fastin which has been discontinued.  The new herbal Fastin is made by Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.   And Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals has a long history of selling couterfit pills, read more.  Consumers should use caution with such a checkered history not only with the manufacturer but even with the distributor NetNutri.com and Fastin-Direct.com owned by Frank Huerta who was charged by the FTC and recently busted for counterfit ephedra diet pills. 

Read below:

****ILLEGAL STACKER II DIET PILL RING BUSTED ****

           Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli announced today the arrests of the following individuals: ARUN DATWANI of 1314 Central Avenue, Westfield, New Jersey and FRANK HUERTA of 18 Iron Latch Court, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. DATWANI was charged with Theft by Deception, Trademark Counterfeiting and Money Laundering. HUERTA was charged with Theft by Deception, Trademark Counterfeiting, Money Laundering, Possession of a controlled dangerous substance, Possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, Possession of a firearm and Weapons Possession during Controlled Dangerous Substances Offenses. The charges are the result of a two-month investigation by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Criminal Investigation Division under the direction of Chief Michael Mordaga of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

          Information was received that ARUN DATWANI, the owner of Roots Vitamin and Health Food Store located at 578 Ridge Road, North Arlington, New Jersey was purchasing, labeling and selling counterfeit “Stacker 2 with Ephedra” at his health food store. DATWANI was also supplying the counterfeit product to FRANK HUERTA, the owner of Nutricentro Health Food Store located at 5307 Bergenline Avenue, West New York, New Jersey and an internet site called Netnutri.com located at 560 55th St. West New York, New Jersey. HUERTA sold the counterfeit product through his internet site Netnutri.com and at Nutricento Health Food Store. The drug Ephedra is a major precursor to the production of Methamphetamine.

          The search warrants were executed at the businesses and residences of DATWANI and HUERTA where a total of approximately 5,000.00 bottles of the counterfeit “Stacker 2 with Ephedra,” along with the labeling equipment were recovered. During the execution of the search warrant at HUERTA’S residence, detectives also recovered approximately $63,000 dollars in cash, two handguns, hollow nose ammunition, approximately (30) pills of the designer drug Ecstasy as well as one hundred other pills for which HUERTA had no prescription.

          DATWANI’S first appearance date is February 8, 2007. HUERTA’S bail was set at $250,000.00, no 10% option, by Judge Louis Dinice, J.M.C. and has a first appearance date of February 8, 2007. Prosecutor Molinelli states that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Also see prior FTC case:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BEFORE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

In the Matter of

NUTRIVIDA, INC., a corporation, and FRANK HUERTA, individually and as an officerof the corporation.

DOCKET NO. C-3826

COMPLAINT

The Federal Trade Commission, having reason to believe that Nutrivida, Inc., a corporation, and Frank Huerta, individually and as an officer and director of the corporation (“respondents”), have violated the provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act, and it appearing to the Commission that this proceeding is in the public interest, alleges:

PARAGRAPH 1:Respondent Nutrivida, Inc. (“Nutrivida”) is a New York corporation with its principal office or place of business at 25 Chapel Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201. Nutrivida produces and distributes program length television advertisements, or “infomercials.” These infomercials include an advertisement for Nutrivida’s “Cartilet ” shark cartilage capsules, a dietary supplement which purports to treat or cure, among other things, cancer, arthritis, and diabetes.

Respondent Frank Huerta is an officer and director of the corporate respondent. Individually or in concert with others, he formulates, directs, participates in, or controls the policies, acts, or practices of the corporation, including the acts or practices alleged in this complaint. His business address is 25 Chapel Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201.

PARAGRAPH 2:Respondents have manufactured, labeled, advertised, offered for sale, sold, and distributed products to the public, including Cartilet shark cartilage capsules.

Copy on Screen: “It has been used in studies against: Cancer Arthritis Diabetes”
* * * * *
PARAGRAPH 7:In truth and in fact, respondents Nutrivida and Frank Huerta did not possess and rely upon a reasonable basis that substantiated the representations set forth in Paragraph 5 at the time the representations were made. Therefore, the representation set forth in Paragraph 6 was, and is, false or misleading.

PARAGRAPH 8:Through the means described in Paragraph 4, respondents Nutrivida and Frank Huerta have represented, expressly or by implication, that studies prove that Cartilet shark cartilage capsules are effective in the symptomatic relief or treatment of cancer, arthritis, and diabetes.

PARAGRAPH 9:In truth and in fact, studies do not prove that Cartilet shark cartilage capsules are effective in the symptomatic relief or treatment of cancer, arthritis, and diabetes. Therefore, the representation set forth in Paragraph 8 was, and is, false or misleading.

PARAGRAPH 10:Through the advertising and dissemination of the program length television advertisement for Cartilet shark cartilage capsules, respondents Nutrivida and Frank Huerta have represented, expressly or by implication, that the program length television advertisement for Cartilet shark cartilage capsules is an independent television program and is not paid commercial advertising.

PARAGRAPH 12:The acts and practices of respondents as alleged in this complaint constitute unfair or deceptive acts or practices, and the making of false advertisements, in or affecting commerce in violation of Sections 5(a) and 12 of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

THEREFORE, the Federal Trade Commission this tenth day of September, 1998, has issued this complaint against respondents.

By the Commission.