i found this on obesityhelp.com's message board

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?RedirectEnter&partner=777701&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi%2Eebay%2Ecom%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI%2Edll%3FViewItem%26item%3D2985214172%26category%3D3149%26ssPageName%3DADME%3AB%3AEF%3AUS%3A1

this is a link to a banded person selling info on the lapband and selling links to other peoples websites.

i wrote this person an email:

what are you selling here? i have the lapband and i am offended that you are selling info that can be recieved for free on the internet and at $7.99??? do the people that you have links for KNOW that you are SELLING links to THEIR website? if you were truly trying to help people you would start your own lapband website for free.

What makes you think you are the BAND GOD and you are all knowing? at 2 months out you have a lot to learn. at 2 years out there will still be stuff to learn. dont sell your opinion because it isnt viable medical advice. maybe someone will follow your 'info' and what happens if they get sick from following your 'paid for' advice. well i hope they can sue you.

AND how do YOU know that they will be able to have the procedure for FREE? insurance coverage is not usually for 100%- the FDA trials already have participants. SO MAYBE JUST MAYBE THIS IS A GIMMICK FOR YOU TO MAKE MONEY!!!

one word for you~ KARMA

what goes around comes around!

michelle

maybe if they get enough emails they will stop selling FREE information!

Hi Michelle,

I am not signed up for ebay, so I wasn't able to view the page... but I cannot believe that someone would do such a thing! Good for you sending them an email message. Is there anyway to report them to the "ebay management"? That just doesn't sound right.

The unfortunate thing is that there are some people out there that do not know how easy it is to get information off the Internet and they would probably pay for such information. It is very sad.

Thanks for sharing this... I might just join ebay so that I CAN access the site and send them a message.

As utterly absurd as this is, it just goes to show there is indeed a sucker born every minute, and an inventive mind to take advantage of them. I'm just glad the word Lap-Band is in the description, so curious people can find information for themselves.

People can and do sell whatever they want on E-bay, but we don't have to buy. Some bandster probably just had nothing else to sell.

Hi Everyone,

The person in question used a before and after photo of my friend Cynthia who has lost 210 pounds with the lapband and was part of the 1999 FDA trials. She has been informed that her pics were used illegally to attract people to buy this absurd package on how to get a lapband. Cynthia has contacted Inamed, since she is now a bariatric post op coordinator who owns the Bandlandia website and company. These pics violate copyright infringement and Cynthia would not advocate such a promotion. Her comment to me today was that you know you truly have arrived when someone posts your pic on Ebay! She has a good sense of humor about it and I only hope that there are not desparate people out there that would consider paying money for this service. Thanks for the watchdogs!!

Babs in TX

334/246/180

-88

6/23/03

cynthia posted this to OH.com

The Ebay Ad

Original Post by Cynthia Jones at 9:41 AM PST on 02/10/2004

Dallas, TX

I just want to clear things up. I DID NOT make this ad. I DID NOT allow this in any way, shape, or form. I have contacted the seller as well as Ebay and requested them to remove it immediately. Inamed knows of this matter and are sending a cease and desist letter. My lawyer as well as my photographer's lawyer is on this matter as well. I am horrified that someone feels that they can sell their story under the guise of my picture.

If anyone knows this seller, please contact me via private email cpj1 @ swbell.net (no spaces) We will prosecute! I have worked hard at establishing a name for myself and am disgusted that someone would try to make money off of my name or reputation.

Thank you for any help in finding out who this person is.

Cynthia Jones

Icky!

I sure hope my webpage wasn't linked to from there...