Apr 22, 2020 |
Adweek – Times of crisis invariably give way to a crop of products sold by opportunists, profiteers, or outright hucksters who understand one of the free market’s more sordid truths:
When people are scared, they’ll spend money on nearly anything.
Like, say, cures for Covid-19. Here are a few “treatments” that have appeared in recent weeks.
Skinny Beach Medical Spa’s family resistance packs
On April 20, the FBI went after spa founder Jennings Staley for advertising $4,000 “treatment packs” for Covid-19, which included time in an oxygen chamber, “anti-anxiety treatments to help you avoid panic,” zinc, vitamin C, and hydroxychloroquine.
The organization stopped selling the packs after Staley was charged with mail fraud.
Alex Jones’ Superblue toothpaste
Conspiracy theorist and media gadfly Alex Jones took to the web on March 7 and touted a range of supplements, creams, and a toothpaste called Superblue as cures for Covid-19.
The toothpaste, he said, “kills the whole SARS-Corona family at point-blank range.”
Among those who happened to disagree was New York Attorney General Letitia James, who hit Jones with a cease-and-desist letter. James said:
“Alex Jones has spewed outright lies and has profited off New Yorkers’ anxieties. His latest mistruths are incredibly dangerous and pose a serious threat to public health.”
At last check, the Infowars Store was no longer selling the toothpaste.
Virus Shut Out necklace
Last month, a suspicious shipment called Virus Shut Out from Hong Kong began making its way into the U.S. Apparently, the user wears it around his neck and benefits from its virus-killing power.
Not only do necklaces not kill viruses, the EPA classifies Virus Shut Out as a disinfectant.
Household bleach
Some Covid-19 “cures” involve the consumption of bleach, including “Miracle Mineral Solution” marketed by the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing.
According to its site, “We intend to help mankind extract himself from a world of death to a world of the living over the coming years.”
Last week, a federal court entered a temporary injunction against the church.
Martin Shkreli
After the Covid-19 pandemic took hold, Shkreli resurfaced as the man who could save us all … Read more.
