I don’t normally open obvious junk mail, but one with the subject “Alternative remedy may help cancer” was irresistible. They are selling some crocodile extract pills called “the antidote”:
The Antidote is a unique Anti-Microbial Peptide offering the widest range of healing power on the market today. It kills all known deadly VIRUSES and BACTERIA in the body. The initial research was carried out over several years ago by the BBC.
[...]
The Peptide is a Protein Extract from Crocodylus Porusus, the largest living crocodile in existence and the most ancient living species on earth (over 20 million years old). A Peptide is a Natural Protein made up of Amino Acids strung together that destroy powerful viruses and bacteria by penetrating their membranes.
The Antidote have simply taken the crocodile’s best weapon against infection and made it functional for human application.
Get that? Kills "all known deadly VIRUSES and BACTERIA" Just the deadly bacteria, mind you, it leaves the good stuff alone. (Wow, how does it know?) It must be true though, because not only do they have testimonials, they also have “clinical trials” – with12 subjects. Oooh! No controls, but we don’t need no stinkin’ controls when we've got testimonials.
The interesting thing is, the url is "crocinamillion". Now, I think perhaps there is a little hyperbole involved here: I can’t really believe it really is a croc “in a million”. A croc in a thousand, maybe. However, I’m prepared to overlook the exaggeration. These people should at least be given some kudos: virtually all altie remedies are a croc, but at least these people are willing to admit it.
(Some days, this column just writes itself.)
“I’ve got yer antidote right ere. Come and get it.”
All the signs of fraud is there. You may report it to http://www.quackwatch.org/, if not allready done.
Nice blog you have, I didn't know about it, until I saw a referral to my blog and I did the same to yours.
Posted by: Anne | March 10, 2005 at 12:16 PM
Thanks for your comments - I'm glad you like the blog.
I'll report it to quackwatch this weekend - good suggestion.
Posted by: Skeptico | March 10, 2005 at 06:43 PM
I notice crocinamilllion.info is down; but you can see it at www.biologicalmiracle.com. There's some useful commentary at the Church of Critical Thinking blog, mentioning that the FDA are aware of them and the BBC have denied any endorsement (the scam is based on the true story of the discovery of crocodillins). More still at the Trojan Pony who've tracked down the originator.
Posted by: Ray | May 02, 2005 at 12:25 PM
A related curiosity: the address given in the Antidote testimonials and various WHOIS traces - "PO Box 726, London, EC1V 7QQ" - is also that of Flashpoint England Ltd (Flashpoint International Limited) - a company that sells spark plugs and computer kit.
Posted by: Ray | May 02, 2005 at 01:27 PM
Really enjoyed your comments. I need a good laugh now and again... and how true!
Keep up the good work - truly,
John Maitland
Posted by: John Maitland | May 09, 2005 at 10:30 AM
Has any of you guy's tried it???? No, how can you talk about fraud? The farma industry is just as powerfull as the weapon industry...and they don't really like something that REALLY WORKS....do they?
Posted by: chris | May 20, 2005 at 01:25 PM
Chris:
Do you have any evidence it works? If so, please present it.
While you’re at it, please explain (with evidence) the relevance of the pharma (note correct spelling) industry to “The Antidote” product.
Posted by: Skeptico | May 20, 2005 at 01:42 PM
Chris.. don't be a moron.
This was all I needed to confirm that it was the obvious scam I figured it was:
They have a so-called 30-day money back guarantee...
"If you are not satisfied with your order please return it back to us unopened and in its original condition within 30 days of purchase for a full refund. Products that are returned back to us opened or damaged will not be refunded."
Get that? If you actually try the product you aren't allowed to return it because it didn't work!... Hilarious.
Posted by: SWP | May 26, 2005 at 01:33 PM
haha - I didn't notice the terms of the 30 day guarantee - well spotted. What a great guarantee.
I wonder what happened to Chris. Do you think he's working on the replies to my two questions? Easy to make claims, not so easy to back them up
Posted by: Skeptico | May 26, 2005 at 05:52 PM
FSAG, I signed up for a bottle, but when I hit the checkout buttn, it came back w/error even though it was all correct. Did they steal my name, addy, and credit card? What should I do, Ferris?
Posted by: dumbass | June 03, 2005 at 10:16 AM
Dear Sirs,
As comparative Vertebrate anatomist and embryologist
I have been always interested in different effective natural antimicrobial substances. One of these substances is Citricide the Grapefruit seed extract. Probably the best extract of Citricide you can find on internet site: http://www.pureliquidgold.com/. I have also checked by myself that this product is really effective !
Considering Antidote I have not comment at this moment but as always I am trying to verify the real effectiveness. Of course it must be clinically evaluated in double blind experiments.
May be there are some serious tries to do this as I can suppose on internet site:
http://www.mcneese.edu/news/newsdisplay/viewnewsjl.asp?headline=Alligator+Research
With my comploments
Boris
Posted by: BORIS BULOG | June 27, 2005 at 01:43 AM
Anyone who truly trusts what the FDA or the FTC says is totally ignorant. Please name me ONE DRUG that EVER cured ANY disease!!! Go ahead - NAME ONE!!! The ONLY one you can come up with is the one that wiped out POLIO. After THAT happened - the medical community realized that there was $$$ to be made on the disease INDUSTRY! NO MORE CURES WERE ALLOWED TO BE FOUND! The FDA and the FTC are NOT in business to protect the CONSUMER - only the big business of shoving DANGEROUS AND TOXIC DRUGS AND USELESS SURGERIES DOWN OUR THROATS!! It doesn't hurt ME that you choose to be IGNORANT of NATURAL HARMLESS REMEDIES THAT CURE VIRTUALLY ALL DEADLY DISEASES KNOWN TO MAN . . .
Don't choke on your Viagra . . . that is, if you live long enough to need it!
Posted by: Concerned | July 26, 2005 at 11:16 PM
I hope YOU die FROM gonorrhea, CHLAMYDIA, ORCHITIS, or ANY OTHER std CURABLE by the satan worshiping PHARMA INDUSTRY, concerned!!! HAHAHAHA!!! tHE earth is FLAT FUCKERS!!! HAHAHAHA!!!
Wow Concerned, you really PWNED!!1!! science there. And turn the caps lock off you cretin, it makes you sound like a 12 year old AOL user. Keep up the crazy conspiracy theories!!
Sometimes it's hard to think that there are men and women who have fought and died in foreign wars to uphold this asshole's right to spout bullshit...
Posted by: Rockstar | July 27, 2005 at 06:17 AM
To "Concerned"
Re: "Please name me ONE DRUG that EVER cured ANY disease!!! Go ahead - NAME ONE!!! The ONLY one you can come up with is the one that wiped out POLIO."
OK - The drug that wiped out Smallpox.
Thanks for playing.
Posted by: Skeptico | July 27, 2005 at 08:07 AM
I think its fake. Though I've visited the URL provided but still I ain't gonna believe it.
Posted by: Julie | October 03, 2005 at 04:34 AM
This might be a dead thread now, but here goes...
Quote: Rockstar - Wow Concerned, you really PWNED!!1!! science there. And turn the caps lock off you cretin, it makes you sound like a 12 year old AOL user. Keep up the crazy conspiracy theories!!
Right, Concerned is the 12 year old AOL user...pwned? My 14 year old son says that in some of his video games...and Skeptico - I don't think "The drug that wiped out Smallpox" is the official name :)
I was trying to find anything that might help my dog as she was recently diagnosed with a form of nasal cancer when I came across the Antidote. I will attempt to purchase this, and if I do receive it, I will post how it works. It doesn't say that it is for use on animals, but she has nothing to lose and a lot to gain.
Posted by: Hope | February 17, 2006 at 07:10 AM
It doesn't say that it is for use on animals, but she has nothing to lose and a lot to gain.
"Nothing to lose" has got to be one of the most dangerous phrases on Earth.
Of course, I imagine what she's got to lose is time that could be better spent on plausible cures, or at least proper research into them.
Posted by: BronzeDog | February 17, 2006 at 07:23 AM