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Consumer Confidential: Tornado scams blowing; FDA warns about diet pill

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Here’s your why-can’t-we-be-friends Wednesday roundup of consumer news from around the Web:

--There are twisters out there, and they’re threatening to blow away your money. The FBI says recent tornadoes in several Southern states have spawned a cluster of scams that take advantage of consumers’ desire to be helpful. ‘Unfortunately, criminals can exploit these tragedies for their own gain by sending fraudulent e-mails and creating phony websites designed to solicit contributions,’ the agency says. It says agents have already received complaints alleging various scams. If you receive any such solicitations, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720-5721.

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--There’s no free lunch ... and no shortcuts when it comes to dieting. The Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers not to purchase ‘Slim Xtreme Herbal Slimming Capsule,’ a weight-loss supplement sold on various websites and distributed by GlobeAll Wellness. The company falsely claims on the label that the product is ‘100% natural,’ the FDA says. Laboratory analysis found that the capsules contain sibutramine, a controlled substance that was withdrawn from the U.S. market in October 2010 for safety reasons.

-- David Lazarus

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