Of course this is dumb, but that is what happens when greed overcomes common sense.  Common sense should tell you that there is no free lunch, and that any "new science" or new pill, or new machine must have some ties to reality.

The Wall Street Journal recently summed up the infectious greed on Wall Street with an article that included this excerpt:

When the business history of the past decade is written, perhaps nothing will sum up the outrageous financial scheming of the era as well as the frenzied swapping that marked its final years. Internet companies such as Homestore Inc. milked revenue from complex advertising exchanges with other dot-coms in ultimately worthless deals. In Houston, equal amounts of energy were pushed back and forth between companies. The beauty of the deals, from the perspective of the participants, was that everyone walked away with roughly the same amount of revenue to put on their books.

But the swaps rage turned out to be no bargain for investors. The bad deals contributed to an epidemic of artificially inflated revenue. In many cases, swaps slipped through legal loopholes left in place by regulators who had failed to keep pace with the ever-changing dealmaking of ever-changing industries. The unraveling of those back-scratching arrangements helped usher in the market collapse and led to the realization by investors that the highest-flying industries of the boom era -- telecom, energy, the Internet -- were built in part on a combustible mix of wishful thinking and deceit. (source)

Yes, new stuff is developed regularly, but you cannot escape the boundaries of gravity and chemistry -- so you, the promoter of the fraud, clothe the new thing in mysterious words that greedy people will not understand, but more importantly, will not try to understand.

This is the key to recognizing such scams.  There are words for which no definition can be found.

Images are particularly misleading.  Here is the "new science" in an image to the right.

You could read more about the "field plates" and the "magnetic envelope" but you would never be able to logically connect or explain these deliberately mysterious terms to anything in a standard physics or chemical text book.

This is mysterious garbage.

Here is more:

The Q2 Energy Water System transfers negative hydrogen ions in a bio-organic form to your body, through water. B.E.F.E. (Bio-Electric Field Enhancement) is the basis for the Q2 Water Energy System. It is the latest in home-based systems developed by Q-Tech Laboratories as an aid for relaxation and well-being. The Q2 is based upon a new quantum resonance theory called Q-Mechanics that alters an external source of artificial energy into an energy format that is similar in nature and compatibility to that of a body. (source)

You read this and say, "I don't understand this completely, but they must understand it. They are so much more knowledgeable than I am. This must be a good product!"

When you read the full story of the above WSJ article, you'll find my simple explanation of the scheme as based on simply use of words for which no agreed definition was used.  When you find "words" in some promotional brochure, you have a moral obligation to yourself to be sure that you understand those words.

In this case the suckers will read words that have NO POSSIBLE MEANINGS in any standard context, they will ignore the lack of logic, and plunge ahead on the basis of infectious greed to make money quick.

The difference about me?  I see "mysterious words" and I go looking for the meanings.  This new scam has many wonderful words that have no meaning other than what a greedy person assumes must exist.

Here is an example.  Incidentally, like other frauds, the promoters have "fixed" their page so that it cannot be copied!  You try, discover this, and are further sucked into the mystery of it all.  Of course, there is a very easy handling for this so-called restriction.

 

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A reader who asks that his name not be shown wrote this:

June 25, 2003
Dear Karl,  

Here's some info to add to your page on the "miracle foot bath".  But please do not put my name on the website or attribute this information to me.

In essence, the foot bath contains a low voltage/amperage AC to DC transformer attached to ferrous electrodes.

The process is basically electrolysis of water, a typical high school experiment.

The brown "toxins" you see is from the rust generated by the corrosion of the iron
electrodes.

Salt is added to make water conductive.  Hydrogen and chlorine gas is given off in this process. The oxygen atoms from the water combine in the liquid with the salt to form hydroxyl ions.  The chlorine gas is from the chloride in the salt. The oxygen in the hydroxl ions stay in the solution.

Given that chlorine gas is poisonous, this process can be dangerous to your health. And the explosive hazard posed by the hydrogen is another minus.

It is fairly simple to set up a demonstration to show how this scam works.

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Karl:  This sounds valid to me -- further proof of the scam!

The following is taken from:  http://www.webdeb.com/q-machine/index.html

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The Q2 Energy Spa

The Q2 Energy Spa was created to realign, balance and enhance the bio energetic levels in water that is then used by the cells of all living things. Experience increased vitality, clarity and an overall sense of well being. By using the Q2 Energy Spa regularly, you (and your family) can increase your energy levels whenever neede. Healthy or not the benefits of the Q2 Energy Spa ca be an advantage to all.   Latest in Health Technology An Organic Battery Charger First Non-Invasive System Nature's first Helping Hand Increases Natural Energy Levels Reduces Stress and Tension Restores Harmony and Balance Simple & Easy to Use by Everyone

The Q2 Energy Spa is designed and manufactured in Australia and leads the world in non invasive energetic hydro-therapy technologies. Water sources similar to Lourdes in France and other selected spas around the world produce enormous quantities of natural life energy imparted to them from the surrounding environment. Thousands of people each year flock to these spas to enjoy the invigorating and rejuvenating aspects that these waters provide. The Q2 Energy Spa is in use by thousands of people around the world and has been credited with producing the same results in the comfort and privacy of your own home. According to the ISPA, a generic term for ‘the traditional practice of treatment by waters to restore and revitalise the body’ is “Balneotherapy”. Since the dawn of civilization, “Balneotherapy” has been used to improve circulation, fortify the immune system and to reduce stress, anxiety and tension. Using the Q2 Energy Spa gives you the portability of these benefits.

 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

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I could point out the words, here, that have no agreed upon dictionary definitions.

Let's!

The claim is:

The Q2 Energy Spa was created to realign, balance and enhance the bio energetic levels in water that is then used by the cells of all living things.

Start with water.  There is a word we understand.  OK.

Then, you learn here that water has something called "bio energetic levels." What is this?

"Bio" usually means "life" but "bio energetic" would have no commonly understood meaning.  Perhaps it means "the energy of life?"  What would that be?  It is certainly mysterious.  Sounds great!

Apparently, according to this claim, water has some level of bio energy, but that this level needs realigning, balancing and enhancement?  The  Q2 machine will realign this energy. The Q2 machine will balance it! The Q2 machine will enhance it!

How could there be any possible connection between such words and commonly understood physics and chemistry?  My opinion is based on logic.

The sucker doesn't know what these words mean, but he is NOT interested in the science of this, but in the millions of dollars he can make.  He fools himself into thinking that this mysterious machine can make people healthy.  But, underneath it is only greed that drives such dumbness.

Keep in mind that the infectious greed for money carries over, in the pep rallies, to an assumption that "healing" and "health" are taking place.  Add into this the well-known "placebo effect" that indicates, commonly, that 25% of people who take a sugar pill will "get better."  It is not that they SAY that they get better, they actually do get better -- it is the placebo effect.

When you combine the infectious greed of the pep rally with the common placebo effect, you may well have a large number of distributors and customers swear that this machine cured XXX!  Anything!

The promoter then goes on with another touch to reality:

 that is then used by the cells of all living things.

Well, it is certainly true that all living things use water.  So, since this is true, then, probably, according to the promoter, the earlier comments must be true.

The promoter claims:

Experience increased vitality, clarity and an overall sense of well being.

Here is goes again.  The claim here is that you will experience increased vitality!

How would you define "vitality?"

How would you define "clarity?"

How would you define "sense of well being?"

The truth is that these words have no meaning except what a greedy person puts there out of his own twisted logic.

Here is more of the claim

By using the Q2 Energy Spa regularly, you (and your family) can increase your energy levels whenever neede.

(There is a typo on the page, "neede" should probably be "needed."

You can increase your "energy levels."

What are those?

"Whenever needed."

What, for goodness sakes, does that mean.

I recently wrote about the fraud of "Coral Calcium" based on their use of words that had no relevance or no meaning.  THIS Q2 product takes the cake!

The promoters claim:

Latest in Health TechnologyAn Organic Battery ChargerFirst Non-Invasive System Nature's first Helping Hand

Increases Natural Energy LevelsReduces Stress and TensionRestores Harmony and Balance Simple & Easy to Use by Everyone

If you have not become skeptical by now, you should have.

The "latest in Health Technology" is a simple claim, hard to prove false, but such a claim doesn't make the Q2 worthwhile, even if somehow true.

An "organic battery charger" is a curious phrase -- it is a phrase which creates a mystery, since you have probably never heard of an "organic" battery charger. There is nothing here to explain why "organic" is better or good, but it is certainly mysterious.  You expect that this is explained elsewhere on their pages?

I spent some time looking but could not find any explanation of "organic battery charger."  I did find a hidden reference to the fact that they take "regular" electricity and turn it into "bio energy" but apparently that is nothing more than low voltage, as shown on one of their not-easy-to-find references.

"Nature's first Helping Hand" is a phrase with not only no meaning, but implies a travesty against "Nature"  if by "Nature" you mean "God."

What is the definition of "Nature?"

Has "Nature" been actively withholding "her" "helping hand" up to now?

"Increases natural energy levels" is a phrase with no meaning.

What is "stress?"  What is "tension?"  Perhaps you think YOU know when you feel "stressed" but what common agreement on a definition would apply?

In any event, how do you know when even YOUR stress is "reduced?"

"Restores harmony and balance!"  Here is phrase with zero meaning!  None! Do you feel a lack of harmony?  Try kissing your wife! 

"Simple and easy to use by everyone."  Well, put some truth on the end of the lie.  But, also, if you read the frequently asked questions (below) you find a whole list of people who SHOULD NOT use this machine.  That is another part of the scam.

Much of marketing is based on the concept of "scarcity."  If something is too easy, or too much available, then it cannot be valuable.  On the other hand, you can make something appear to be more valuable by creating a fake scarcity.

You say that "everyone can use" this device, but then you make it plain that not only may pregnant woman NOT use the device, but neither can anyone with an electrical device inside their body.  These are reasonable, but if the whole thing is a fraud from the start, then bringing in fake scarcities just makes it appear more valuable to the sucker.

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I could go on with just such an analysis of the product itself.

If you fall for this type of deception, shame on YOU.  Of course the company is guilty of fraud, but the Governor of California was a sucker for illegal energy manipulation, too, and now the citizens of  California are left with a State debt of about $30 billion paid in excessive prices to the energy companies, such as Enron, and others, who were infected with the greed of the day.

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Now, as a final nail in the coffin that needs to hold this dead, but still quivering body, let's look at the enticement that feeds the infectious greed.  There is always a "compensation plan" with these MLM companies. This is the appeal to make millions of dollars without having to work -- just sign up a few people and sit back to wait for the checks to come in.

Q2 is equally vague on this one.  Several webs where this machine is being sold do NOT mention the terms of the MLM compensation program. But, there are references to "sponsor," and you can be sure there is, somewhere, the "plan" that will make you rich without working.

Here is one mention of the business opportunity:

Are your energy levels low whatever type of healing you try - orthodox, complementary, alternative? Do you have any physical, mental or emotional problems? A spa energy system device from Australia could change all that and give you a lucrative business. Use it for yourself and/or to make money. See: www.q2.com.au Contact Jill Bray, Albert Park Road, Malvern WR14 1HN. Tel/Fax 01684 560354 or jill@jillbray.freeserve.co.uk   (source)

It's good to know that the Q2 even solves emotional problems.

In fact, like many fraudulent MLMs, someone is recommending a "cookie cutter" web design, probably only to suckers who buy 10 of these useless devices, or some such requirement, and thus all you have to do is wait for the orders to come in.

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I've published your letter and my reply as one of my Frequently Asked Questions.  The world is full of false and fraudulent claims, particularly in the field of health.  I see them all the time.  When I investigate one I find, very often, that some greedy money motive is at the root.  People get interested in frauds like this because they want to make a lot of money.  Typically these products are sold by MLM (Multi Level Marketing) companies.  The greed overcomes logic.  The developers and promoters know they are lying to you, but they have only money as their motives.  You THINK you want to help people, but you are really just interested in the buck.

You convince yourself they are right -- because you want the buck. That also is my opinion of the people who buy into this.

You then peddle your false sincerity and convince others.  They might claim that they are really only interested in helping others.  If you remove the MLM and "millions to be 'earned' with no work" appeals?  Then, no one shows much interest.

For years I've wanted to invent a whole new (fake) product, just to show what it would like when taken to some extreme level.  It would be a machine, or a pill that solves death, or makes fat people thin, or guys irresistible to girls, or some such claim.

I would structure it so that you could invest $5 to get your kit, then a "few dollars" more for your sample, and that you should then hurry up to open new checking accounts because you would not want to have all those soon millions in just one bank.  The money would all be here by next Tuesday, but only if you are one of the first 13 to get your sample.

Oh, by the way, these are being produced in a brand-new, state of the art factory, and the first shipments will be next Thursday.

Hurry!

Good luck.

KL

I have pasted in below one of their pages with, supposedly, a full explanation of this device.

Your message to me is on this page: http://www.oralchelation.com/faq/answers9.htm

The source of the below material is just one of many independent distributors for this fraudulent device -- the MLM company that suckers you in.

 http://www.webdeb.com/q-machine/faq.htm

BEWARE! This link, above, has an automatic re-director to a porn site, called

http://boobs.com/

 

I was able to get the correct page, but since doing that this re-director has become effective.  You will see the correct page flash on your screen, then the porn site.  Karl Loren
 

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