16 August 2010
iRenew and Q-Ray Scams- A Follow-Up
Posted by Dan Satterfield
You can file a complaint with the FTC over these scams. Click the image above to go to the FTC web page.
In the two months since I wrote the post about what a scam the iRenew bracelet was, I have had more comments than any other post I have ever written. Mostly from people who like me are amazed that people will fall for it. Many other comments explain very well why these scammers will make millions of dollars. The adverts are now all over Fox news and other outlets on late night cable TV.
Q-Ray Is A Scam Too
Do not think I’m exaggerating either. A similar piece of junk, the Q-Ray bracelet has already gotten into trouble with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and were ordered to provide 64 million dollars in refunds. I bet that is a drop in the bucket compared to how much they got away with. You can find out more about the Q-Ray scam and the lawsuits against them on Quackwatch.
While I’m On The Subject Of Scams…
A new scam for those that slept though junior high science Class. Can you say horse hockey? I knew you could...
I saw a new one being touted on twitter the other day. The Zero Point Magnetic Generator. It usually the revolutionary idea of perpetual motion to make free power for your home. Perpetual motion scams have been around for many decades and they have taken millions from the scientifically illiterate.
Just to be clear here- Perpetual motion violates the second law of thermodynamics. That means it will not, cannot, and NEVER will work. Period. A similar scam using a tank of water in your car boot to make hydrogen runs along similar lines. It’s just as much a scam as the rest.
I mentioned some of those comments I have received on the first post. Many more were political in nature and off topic so they did not get approved. I tried to be more generous than usual in my editing, and here are my fave’s below (with the replies I have held off making).
Comments:
1.after wearing bracelet for 1 week i gained incredible strength, lost 50 lbs, attracted women by the dozen andit cured my cancer. lol people are so &^%ing stupid. I can imagine all the idiots running to their mailboxes in anticipation of their miracle cure. Thanks for putting at least 1 honest review of this scam.
Dan: Your Welcome!
2.Jack Rand
Actually I do have an iRenew bracelet, and it has worked for me! I really don’t care why it works, I only care that it makes me feel better. After I bought the bracelets online I got some pdfs from irenew. After reading a little bit about the theory behind this technology, I did a bit more digging and found this video from the same authors. The video called “The Living Matrix” is really amazing. It really breaks down a handful of technologies being used to help restore or heal a person’s body field.
Dan: Jack you missed the point! There is no such thing as a “body field”. See Barnum P.T. and Gary Stephens reply below.
3. You know – I have to add one thing – If you buy one of these, you should need to pass a test before you are allowed to vote. It is certainly one thing to screw yourself but when you vote, now you are passing on your stupidity to the lives of others. So: I-Renew = I shouldn’t vote
and my favourites:
4.what i find amazing is that there is no negative feedback on this product anywhere,(except here)yet,everyone here with negative feed has (never tried) the product. im reminded of a time when the world was once thought to be flat.with that said, if your going to lead the movement,on this so called fake irenew bracelet,at least try the damn thing first!
and gary stephens Reply:
August 14th, 2010 at 10:18 am
you don’t have to stick your head up a chickens ass to know where an egg comes from.
So in closing, while I do not mean to be harsh, if you bought one of these things, or your plans to build a zero point magnetic generator are in the mail, do yourself a favour. Turn off the TV and visit your local library. Might I suggest Tuning into Science Friday on NPR? Oh, and quit reading the horoscope in your local paper.
That’s a SCAM too!
Dan Satterfield has worked as an on air meteorologist for 32 years in Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama. Forecasting weather is Dan's job, but all of Earth Science is his passion. This journal is where Dan writes about things he has too little time for on air. Dan blogs about peer-reviewed Earth science for Junior High level audiences and up.
well mr scientist you atack people who make things to improve the lifes of others and call them scams you want to see scams look in the mirror hows that supercolider doing how many billions of tax dollars have been spent on that scam how about NASA how long is it going to take and how many billions of tax dollars to get back to the moon something we did 40+ years ago {or did we}starting to belive the cospearice therory now then lets look @ the big 1 your specaily global warming how much have you scientist have scamed on that. i wonder what kind of test you would want people to take to vote im sure itll be to make sure everyone agrees with your point of view so you can contuine to scam billions more from us maybe you should get out of the library and invest your money in something that makes people lifes better
People will take you much more seriously if you try to spell your post correctly.
Take a look at this book. I think the author knows you…..
http://members.shaw.ca/jeanaltemeyer/drbob/TheAuthoritarians.pdf
the mis-spelled words were intentional…..that’s obvious. If you really believe otherwise, then you are the gullible one.
If that braclet actually benefited us somehow, then it would be growing on trees or in the ground, or falling from the rain clouds. It’s not anything but junk and a scam. Better yet, why wernt we born with them around our wrists. It’s BS. All the magnetic energy is already all around us naturally.
Roland May, not only can’t you spell, but have you ever heard of punctuation. Reading your post was like listening to the incoherent ramblings of a 16 year old Meth addict on a bender.
I know, go buy yourself and iRenew bracelet. That will have you writing like an English professor.
The whole thing reminds me of one simple word, Gullible!
We used to teach science so that people could recognize snake oil when they saw it. Now-a-days, we teach the rote learning of formulas and factoids, instead of developing the capacity for critical thought.
Then again, critical thought would defeat the various agendas to indoctrinate students with the equivalent of political snake oil. We are creating a country of suckers, by design, and some of the participants are fully unaware they are participating.
Teaching the crazy claims associated with green energy, global warming, intelligent design, and etcetera, works to create a populace ready and willing to believe the crazy claims of devices like iRenew and QRay.
I don’t think spelling correctly will help us take Mr May any more seriously. It’s the content itself that gives it away. For example, Mr Ciani spells well, but the content of his last paragraph indicates an ideologically blinded mindset rather a critical thinker mindset. Push him to support his contention that global warming claims are crazy, and he will eventually have to fall back on a worldwide conspiracy theory every much as loopy as Mr May’s.
I’m so glad to have found this site. Every time I’ve seen the ad for iRenew, it strikes me as a scam conducted in plain sight. Today, I decided to “bing” it, and it took four pages before finding this site. Every site, including ones supposedly blogged by skeptical but pleased users, touts the benefits of this miracle bracelet. My thoughts about things like this: If such products like this one, claiming to be a miraculous cure for whatever disease or condition can think of, pharmaceutical companies would have long ago discovered, developed, and marketed them! I can’t imagine big pharma passing up a chance like this to make money. The old saying, “buyer beware,” is still true!
Does anyone recall what was said about copper bracelets doing similar things as claimed by the iRenew bracelet? I haven’t bought an iRenew bracelet, however the first time I saw the commercial on tv for it, It immediately reminded me of the copper bracelet I bought years ago while visiting the Grand Canyon. It didn’t work at all, in fact, all I got from it was a discolored area on my left arm, caused by the oxidation of the copper in the bracelet.
If you think you are smart and want to stay close minded, that’s fine. Remember history: once a man said “we can send voice in the air” people laughed! Well we have something called radio, and the funny thing is even that everything we do or use uses RF. Oh, “I don’t mean to be harsh” learn to spell “favor”
I will if you buy a dictionary…
World English Dictionary
favour or favor (ˈfeɪvə) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
— n
1. an approving attitude; good will
2. an act performed out of good will, generosity, or mercy
3. prejudice and partiality; favouritism
4. a condition of being regarded with approval or good will (esp in the phrases in favour , out of favour )
5. archaic leave; permission
6. a token of love, goodwill, etc
7. a small gift or toy given to a guest at a party
8. history a badge or ribbon worn or given to indicate loyalty, often bestowed on a knight by a lady
9. obsolete chiefly ( Brit ) a communication, esp a business letter
10. archaic appearance
11. find favour with to be approved of by someone
12. in favour of
a. approving
b. to the benefit of
c. (of a cheque, etc) made out to
d. in order to show preference for: I rejected him in favour of George
— vb
13. to regard with especial kindness or approval
14. to treat with partiality or favouritism
15. to support; advocate
16. to perform a favour for; oblige
17. to help; facilitate
18. informal to resemble: he favours his father
19. to wear habitually: she favours red
20. to treat gingerly or with tenderness; spare: a footballer favouring an injured leg
[C14: from Latin, from favēre to protect]
favor or favor
— n
I am surprised that irenew does not promote their product as requiring a bracelet for each wrist to equalize the “Field”. Better yet, two ankle bracelets for full benefit. Just think of the lost revenue.
To all you non-believers out there – I was one of the people in the infomercial. I was the average looking man with the short hair. When the balance test was done on me I was knocked flat on my keester. But after I put on the bracelet … OMG, I actually tossed the guy across the room (accidentally of course), because my strength and balance was instantly that much improved. The only reason they didn’t show it on TV was because of all the blood when he split his head open on the camera lens.
And when it comes to everyday life, I don’t fall down two flights of stairs 3 times every day anymore. Since wearing the bracelet, I actually fall UP the stairs. And not only 3 times, but now it’s 4 times every day. Well, not really every day. Some days I only fall up the stairs twice, but other days I might fall up the stairs 5 times, so you could say it ‘balances’ out.
I also love to fish. The only problem was that I never really had much luck. If I fished for two hours, I usually only caught 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5 fish. But NOW, every time I go fishing I catch 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6 (that’s right, 6) fish in the same time span ! That is, when I catch 6 fish, otherwise not (but that goes without saying). The crazy thing is that this happens only when I wear my bracelet ! What else could it be ?!? It’s reached the point where I have to either go fishing alone, or take off the bracelet and leave it in the car (making sure it’s parked far away). I really don’t want to embarrass my friends or hurt their feelings by catching so many more fish than them.
And I know the manufacturer doesn’t advertise this (probably because a few people might find it hard to believe), but it also works on mechanical things. Listen to this – Several months back I wanted to give one of these to my daughter while she was giving me a ride to the parts store (the starter went bad one morning after I forgot to put my bracelet back on, because the day before I had to take my bracelet off to fix my car. It broke because I wasn’t wearing my bracelet. That’ll teach me(I hope)). Anyway, to make a long story short, I lost it before I could give it to her. The very next day her gas mileage went from 14 mpg to 16 mpg ! It eventually averaged out to 15 mpg, but WOW, overnight ?!? She called me about a week later to tell me she found the bracelet while cleaning her car. It was under the seat ! And, get this, not even under the drivers seat, but under the PASSENGER seat !! No wonder they don’t advertise this. I’m a first hand witness to this, and I still find it hard to believe !
Now, I could go on, and on, and on, and on, and on (yes, on) about all the ways this tiny piece of plain old silicone rubber band has improved my life, my families’ life, and even my neighbors’ life, but I’m worried that there isn’t enough space allowed in this review window for everything I really want to say. I hate the thought of wasting time for nothing (I want to go fishing). Besides, my two index fingers are starting to hurt (I just realized I forgot to put my bracelet back on. I had to take it off to fix my car. It broke because…never mind).
As far as all you moaning and complaining about paying $8 or $9 shipping for something that weighs as much as a stick of gum and fits into a very small envelope – WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU !? Haven’t you been listening ?? They’ll give you another one for FREE !! All you have to do is pay another $8 or $9 to ship the FREE one. So what if they are both shipped in the same package with a combined total of .42 cents ! Don’t forget, it’s not only the actual shipping that costs money, envelopes are NOT free ! And what about the little bald man that comes to you house to open that un-free (is that a word ?) envelope and personally puts the bracelet on your wrist to make sure you don’t screw it up ? Do you really think he does this out of the goodness of his heart ? Just kidding on that last part. That was totally un-called for, and almost mean. Sorry. But in any case, I would gladly pay 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6 (yes, even 6) times as much as this to ship something that does what this little marvel of Biofield Therapeutic Science of Natural Programmed Frequencies Healing can do. Wouldn’t you ? I mean, it’s true I didn’t pay shipping for mine. Yes, I got mine for free (three of them, to be exact), for being one of the actual people in the infomercial (I was the average looking man with the short hair). So I guess it wasn’t exactly free, exactly. After all, I did make the manufacturer look good by me looking like an idiot on my keester. That is, until I put on “the bracelet”. After that, oh yea baby, no more idiot (just ask the guy with the scar on his head)!
So what all this rambling boils down to is this : for this tiny piece of plain old silicone rubber band to change my life, my families’ life, and even my neighbors’ life the way it has, it must be something pretty special. I am thoroughly impressed, and I’m not easily impressed. I hope that I’ve enlightened some of you nay-sayers out there because every word of this has been the absolute truth, and if this isn’t the best thing to come along since sliced bread, I’ll eat 2 (that’s right, 2 (two)), bowls of ice cream (Mint Chocolate Chip, even), or maybe 1 (yes, 1 (one)), very large one. I’ll decide that when (and if) the time comes.
Also, one last word(s) – as I said somewhere above about how I could go on, and on, and on, and on, and on (yes, on), anyone (and I mean anyone) that would like to read more of this totally truthful testimony, just email me at my email address and I will email you an email to your email address ALL (and I mean ALL) the ways this tiny piece of plain old silicone rubber band has improved my life, my families’ life, and even my neighbors’ life. But you might want to get some extra printer cartridges and a fresh ream of printer paper and print it out. If you try to read the whole thing in one sitting I think your eyes would start to bleed. I know mine would, but my eyes aren’t what they used to be (I’m just saying). Hmm, maybe I should tape my extra bracelet to my forehead…
I love you all. Peace.
I had an epiphany the day after I posted this. I should have thought of this sooner, seeing as how I was wearing my iRenew bracelet.
Remember I said my eyes aren’t what they used to be ? Well, I took my extra bracelet, opened it up, and used duct tape (almost as useful as my iRenew bracelet) to tape each end to one eyebrow.
It works !
I mean, I can’t get it off without ripping my eyebrows out of my face by the roots, but why would I want to ? It really doesn’t look all that bad. Actually, if you look at it quick, it just looks like a very well trimmed uni-brow (this bracelet is the black one).
And not only that, I can now watch the game without even having to turn on the TV !!
Please, everyone, do yourselves, your families, and even your neighbors a favor and buy the iRenew bracelet. You’ll be so glad you did. I promise !
I love you all. Peace.
It really amazes me how many stupid people there are out there. I agree; They shouldn’t be allowed to vote!
To everyone who is thinking of making a purchase of anything that you do not know much about: RESEARCH IT, and research the technology behind it. Make sure your research is not published or influenced by the company/organization which makes the product. Also research the individuals selling the product. You maybe surprised to find they have been involved with criminal behavior in the past. Is that who you want to do business with? It really amazes me that these people are allowed to operate their scamming business through the public media and get away with it.
If it sounds too good to be true, It probably is.
There are lots of people claiming that the iRenew bracelet works; I’m even related to some of them. I am not beyond admitting that the “cure” is in their minds. If that’s true, the that’s where the illness was too and no amount of conventional medicine can fix that. So, basically, if it can cure an imagined ailment, then it’s money well spent. I personally know a number of physicians who can’t do that.
A lot of time you find if someone can’t respond to a comment, they blast the person’s spelling or grammar. Then there are those that like to use a lot of fancy words to simply show off or make someone believe they may be more educated. Most people do not realize, to be understood all they need to do is post on an 8th grade level. Having said that…. let get back to the Irenew. This is one of those things that only works in the mind of someone that wants it to work. If you order it to prove it does not work, it will not work. Give a child a glass of Kool aid and tell them its wine they will get drunk. Common since tells me it’s a piece of junk. Then again, very few things sold on TV are of any value. If they do happen to work they are overpriced by the time they get you for overpriced shipping and handling.
Don’t waist your money, it will soon show up at the Dollar store. Buy it then if you just got to have it.
What you have is the placebo effect combined with a motivation for many who don’t want to admit they wasted $20 bucks….that will make the Irenew bracelet feel great…Keep in mind that your Biofield is also a copyrighted trademark of the company that makes the Irenew….Hmmm….
Now comes an ethical question. If someone is getting a psychological benefit, is it right to tell them that their product is bogus and doesnt work? At the same time, what if someone in the world places their total faith in the Irenew Bracelet and chooses to stop a treatment for a preexisting condition? These would be some fun topics in an undergradaute ethics course…..
If you believe in this bracelet, you probably also believe in the invisible man in the sky who will answer your prayers. Yes, “gullible” IS the operative word.
[…] Satterfield, D. (2010, August 16). IRenew and Q-Ray Scams- A Follow-Up. Retrieved November 16, 2015, from https://blogs.agu.org/wildwildscience/2010/08/16/irenew-and-q-ray-scams-a-follow-up/ […]