A north-east firm plundered more than £2million in its first two years of trading by selling fake weight loss supplements and bogus treatments for cancer and arthritis.
Secret Diet Drops Ltd claimed its “revolutionary” products would help people shed pounds and give them more energy.
The company used an online service to prey on the vulnerable and duped them into believing an apple cider vinegar “kills cancer cells and slows growth”.
But yesterday at Peterhead Sheriff Court the firm’s director’s Helen Buchan and Carol Wiseman, both from Fraserburgh, admitted making false statements about their products.
The court heard the pair sold bottles of Secret Diet Drops and claimed they “made you feel less hungry”.
Apple cider vinegar was also advertised, principally through a private Facebook page, with claims it “helped break down fat” and reduced or relieved arthritis.
Fiscal Depute David Bernard said verbal advice had been given to the company by Aberdeenshire Council in 2012, underlining the importance of the business backing up its claims.
Mr Bernard also said complaints were made to trading standards in 2012 and 2013 about claims made by the firm.
The court heard Secret Diet Drops Ltd did make some “minor changes” to its website after meeting trading standards officers, however misleading information remained online.
Trading Standards carried out test purchase of the diet drops and the apple cider vinegar – paying £35 for a diet drops course and £6.49 for the vinegar.
The watchdog also took screen shots of the website and Facebook page during its investigation.
Mr Bernard said a diet plan was included with the drops, including foods to eat, but customers were told the supplement was essential to lose weight.
He said there had been no clinical testing to back up any of the claims.
The fiscal depute said Trading Standards went to scientific experts to examine the supposed benefits of the products.
“Any effect on body weight from the regime would be from a reduction in calorie intake, not from the drops,” said Mr Bernard.
Experts also picked apart the “benefits” of the apple cider vinegar.
He said claims it could kill cancer cells and reduce fat were discredited, and it was discovered its acidity could even harm arthritis sufferers.
The business admitted that between July 23, 2013 and January 7, 2015 it advertised the diet drops as contributing and being necessary to help weight loss when taken as part of an eating plan.
The business also admitted making claims about the cider vinegar’s health benefits between June 21, 2013 and July 23, 2013.
Buchan, 49, of 8 Greenbank Grove, Fraserburgh, and Wiseman, 48, of 1 Burns Place Fraserburgh, also admitted charges of allowing the sales and false claims to be made.
Buchan’s counsel, advocate Ronnie Renucci, said she accepted the literature on the diet drops was misleading but “it was not intended” to be so.
Despite complaints, the court was told some people had said the regime worked.
Mr Renucci said Buchan “had relied on information from others”, including the suppliers of diet drops, which had come from America.
He added: “What she failed to do and where she failed completely was carrying out due diligence on the claims that were made.”
Wiseman’s counsel advocate Tony Lenehan said she was a lady of “good character” and had an honest belief in the products.
Sheriff Andrew Miller deferred sentence until March 24 for reports.