Can anyone shed light on why a PD group on FB warns PD patients about staying away from KidneyBuzz.com (and owner "Cameron"?) because they charge patients money to help them get "their story" out to social media to find a live donor. The FB group moderator defines it as a "scam" and that KidneyBuzz is not highly successful in finding donors, but they are certainly proficient in feeding off the desperation of kidney patients.
Before i read about KidneyBuzz, I had paid them aporox $35 to assist me with writing "my story" and then they intended to charge more to publish it to social media sites. Then, I read the post on FB and wrote Cameron to cancel my account. He did not refund the $35, but he did email the "story" he prepared for me (which I never got around to reading and now I cannot find it anywhere in my emails!).
Does anyone have a more positive story about KidneyBuzz or any feedback? Thanks.
Marcia
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TaffyTwoshoes27
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I had heard about them many months ago and as far as putting out good information on CKD I did more research on them and the bottom line was not impressive. I can't speak to the efficacy of their policies but anyone who wants to charge you for sharing or getting in touch with a donor doesn't sound ethical to me.
However, in all honesty, I'm not a believer in FB either. They may not charge anything for their service but they do sell information on their subscribers. How else would they make the money they do?
Of course, that's just my opinion and I could be wrong.
Well, FB's earnings in 2017 were $40 billion, so I guess they will sell anything and everything!
I am reading some research posted on the net by KidneyBuzz that seems interesting, but, like you, I do not know what to believe! I doubt "Cameron" is a Nephrologist!
Just a side note, there are a lot of legitimate businesses on Facebook that have Facebook "business pages" as well as advertise on Facebook. As with anything, there are honest and dishonest people there. It is a great venue to get information out quickly to large groups of people. My husband and I have a small business and have a business page so people can ask us questions, we can share events and share our new products.
Facebook also has a lot of closed and open groups that range in interests from fishing to pets to health- everything you can imagine. There are a lot of Kidney specific groups for particular kidney diseases. I was in an IGA Nephropathy group for awhile and it was not sponsored by a specific kidney organization, just set up by regular people who had kidney disease that wanted to communicate with each other about it.
One issue is that Facebook asks you a bunch of questions and if you choose to answer them, your information is shared in a round about way so that advertisers can target you on your feed. They also track pages you like. For instance, If I were selling dog food, and you had liked several pages who constantly showed dog images, then that information would be stored and when I, ( a dog food company) set up Facebook advertising, I could target people who were dog lovers. They would then show you my ad because you had liked a bunch of pages that had dog photos.
Facebook can be a great resource for those of us with health issues as there is a lot of info out there, just proceed with caution and do your homework as you are doing now.
Thanks for your reply. I have been a member of FB probably 15 yrs, as well as being a technology "geekette" since 1985, and I was in a Private/closed group on FB for PD patients that was started by a woman helping her husband who was on PD.
I havent been communicating on FB very much for the last year or so. I was doing research the other day about what the "UltraFiltration" amounts in PD treatments really meant. I was reading, some of the info was over my head in terminology, and I realized it came from "KidneyBuzz". It made me want to ask people in this forum about their experience or negative info they may have heard about relative to paying KidneyBuzz to help them with getting their story out to social media for a live donor.
It seems incongruous that KidneyBuzz has good research info but is also "known" for feeding on the desperation of people who need a kidney.
As in life generally, there will always be good people and those that spoil the barrel. It is sad that the "almighty dollar" motivates some people to do crappy things.
Well I dont know about you but KidneyBuzz actualy helped me a lot. I just love their monthly subscription. Did you know KidneyBuzz.com has also received the prestigious Amazon Editor's Choice Award for its Life Management Guide, "Fight Kidney Disease & Diabetes.
Look, I never said anything about you not joining up with FB or KB. It's your time and money. I answered the question a year ago after doing the research. I ask nobody to adhere to what I say. I offer the information I find and you make your own decision. If you defend someone or some organization that others have issues with be prepared to handle it.
This community is free and there is always a free exchange of ideas and information.
Gosh! That was GREAT info and history on KB. I am impressed and quite grateful!
When I went through transplant evaluation and was accepted in 2015, i was a bit gullible and had no clue how to reach out to ask for a live donor (my older sister has decided she does not want to even get tested....even though for years [even before I was diagnosed with CKD] she said she would donate if I ever needed a kidney).
From your reply/feedback, I now understand how KB's reputation has become so tarnished (and it appears it is justified, indeed!).
I really appreciate the time you took in preparing such a thorough reply! Thanks!
My response disappeared so I will try to be as short and succinct as possible. Kidney buzz .com has been banned/blocked from most kidney support groups in Facebook. Their content is unreliable and often suspect in accuracy, authorship etc both on their FB "page" and on their website IMHO. They try to sensationalize their articles which are taken from other reliable news sources and made to look like their own. If you disagree with anything KB says or claims you'll likely be called names, threatened, stalked or more. They offer to help you set up a kidney needed page for a fee and a monthly fee until you get a kidney, something anyone can do for themselves free of charge. Facebook will help and walk you through the process at no charge. Please exercise all due caution and diligence when dealing with them. I personally know of at least 3-4 dozen groups where anything posted that comes from kidney buzz is not allowed and immediately removed and kidney buzz themselves are banned/blocked. The last post made on here responding (Lisa McKinney) to me calling me a liar and threatening me was indeed likely from Cameron Fields, imho as the entire post was written and worded like him. Both his response and my post regarding KB was removed so as not to show favoritism. He hides, lurks, trolls and attacks imho. Please be cautious in any dealings you may have with him/them. Blessings
Well written. Those are issues I learned as well (after I was suckered out of $35!). It is unconscionable to me that someone would take advantage of a group of people who, in most scenarios, need to leave their jobs, apply for Disability, live on a fixed income, may have large medical bill commitments, and, to top it all off, feel as though they've been hit by a freight train to learn their kidneys are failing and they must have a transplant!! Thank God for all the non-profit organizations who really help kidney patients, i.e., AKF, NKF, Georgia Transplant Foundation and the like.
It is a journey I would not wish on anyone! What goes around, comes around (Cameron)!
KidneyBuzz is awesome. They have like 100K friends on Facebook and I personally believe them. KidneyBuzz seeks to teach those people who are suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis Kidney Transplant, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure how to better manage and improve their lives. I respect Kidneybuzz, received plenty of interesting info from them.
Glad it works for you. My experience and opinions radically differ from yours. I will continue in discouraging others from ANY involvement with kidney buzz, Cameron fields or anything anyone associated with them. My opinion. My right. Doesn't make me or you bad, just different. Now can we leave it at that or will you insist on continuing the very old dead horse? Blessings
Our experience with Kidney Buzz was even worse. We were sucked into joining...and after over two years of paying monthly, had received no referrals whatsoever. Finally cancelled. I personally believe that Cameron is doing no more than creating a page, and then collecting monthly fees.
Well yes that is how the subscription works, however they provide you with lots of interesting and handy stuff, that is worth the money you pay for a subscription.
I am about to take them off my FB and stop emails. They always post the same thing over and over; I don't think I've seen a new article in months.
They sent me an email about the portable kidney and appeared to ask for people to be put on a clinical trial list. I responded, and I got a call from them wanting me to sign up for their $50 a year program. When I asked the representative about the trial, he could not answer any of the questions. I seriously doubt the representative knew anything about kidney disease.
The bottom line.... I personally believe the website is there to con as many people as possible. I may have kidney disease, but I do my research and will NOT give them money just to pad their pocket.
Well me personly I like Kidneybuzz service, they provided me with lots of interesting info. I use their monthly subscription and I have never been happier.
I’ve had an excellent experience with KidneyBuzz.com, and I should say Cameron is a true master of his trade. I am grateful to him for his assistance and guidance. I’ve been subscribed to this source for years, and during this time I only received qualified medical assistance and relevant insights. I understand that a donor rarely can be found on the next day after the application and that it can take years, but I trust Cameron and his team in this question. A few years ago they helped my boyfriend's aunt, and this is how I do know about this Cameron. Also grateful for the complete and informative website where I’ve found additional tips for future treatment. As to Facebook blocking the groups and ads, such cases are frequent. The program is only $52.00, and as for me, this is quite a reasonable budget for the fantastic service they offered and it really helped.
I couldnt say better myself. I have been using their monthly subscription for a few months now and I am very happy with qualified medical assistance they have provided me. Cameron is a true master. It is too bad there are so many old grouches, that provide a false info.
Now convinced you are Cameron. Typical as you think you are some sort of doctor taking complicated studies and making dangerous mistakes explaining them.
Note to moderators: if 'kidney Doc' complains about my posts please research the account for fraud.
KIDNEYFAN seems to be the same scenario (is a KiDNey_BUZz fake account). [I spelled it that way so Cam cannot search the word easilt.]. Doesn't this behavior (i.e., multiple accounts under different usernames) PROVE that Cameroon is an unethical, devious, preditory liar? He has been known to plagiarize information from other authors, studies and forums. How does he sleep at night?
There is no team, just Cameron and his elderly ill Father. They are 2 peas in a pod. FB has not banned him. It is the administrators/moderators of dozens of support groups due to inaccuracy of literature he releases, fees, monies, and bombardment of unwarranted and virtually useless, deceptive articles and charging fees, monies and more for subscriptions that virtually anyone can do. Furthermore his character is revealed when his words end in hate mongering, verbally abusive attacks and sending his spite all around. This thread started 8 months ago. Can we just let it be done? Blessings
Well said. But the problem continues. It is important we post continually our warning so that the internet searches reveal the truth behind the Kidney Buzz quakary.
I just can't believe how many haters I saw in this post. I respect the KidneyBuzz company. I talk to Cameron - he updates me on the artificial kidney. I even met the guy and talked to him in person he is legit.
Well, I love their monthly subscription, they provide very decent and helpful information. One of my closest friends have been using their service for years and he is very happy with what he is getting each month.
There is a Facebook group that has a show called "Warriors Quest" on Wednesday from 8:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m EST. The organization is called Urban Health Outreach Media and they give you a few minutes to talk about your needing a transplant and they do not charge a dime for this time.
Kidney Buzz is not only a scam it is filled with dangerous misinformation. I urge you to warn everyone in your kidney disease community to block anything and everything to do with Kidney Buzz.
Excellent sources instead include renal support and NFK.
Thank you for the comments. I was in the process of trying to assess just how legitimate is KB and based on the comments here and what the site lacks, I do believe it is not a reputable website.
The articles have no mention of authors behind the post nor any dates. No accreditation behind the pictures that are published. I think it could be a valuable resource if the articles be authentically written by an author rather than anonymously posted.
The address of KB is a post office mail box in California rather than being a commercial building or a residence of the owner.
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