Scam Watch

The ban: The court order Kevin Trudeau doesn’t what you to know about.

The judgment: Trudeau, who has made a fortune from health cures, weight-loss plans and other controversial regimens, has been banned from infomercials for three years. The Federal Trade Commission announced last week that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois ruled that Trudeau -- whose bestselling books typically have “. . . They Don’t Want You to Know About” in their titles -- was in contempt of an earlier order that found he had made false claims about his weight-loss book. Trudeau was also ordered to pay more than $5 million.

The claims: The court said Trudeau’s infomercials claimed that his diet plan could be followed easily and at home, but the book called for getting colonics and regular injections of human growth hormone. Although the infomercials said consumers could eat anything while on the plan, the book said food intake had to be 100% organic and include no brand-name items. And although the TV pitch said no exercise was needed, the book said a one-hour daily walk was necessary.

The books: The court order does not affect Trudeau’s books, which are protected as free speech.

-- David Colker