Health scams are everywhere and can cost you money, get in the way of needed medical treatment, and harm your health and wellness.
People spend billions of dollars a year on products and treatments to try to improve their health, but a lot of that money goes to companies that make false, and sometimes harmful, claims.
Whether it’s a miracle product on social media that promises quick weight loss results, or a supplement advertised on TV that can cure arthritis overnight, health scams are everywhere. These scams can cost you money, get in the way of needed medical treatment, and harm your health and wellness.
Learn more about health scams, how to spot them, and what steps you can take to avoid falling for them.
What Are Health Scams?
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a health product is considered a scam if it is deceptively promoted as being effective against a disease or health condition, but is not scientifically proven safe and effective for that purpose. These scams often involve selling medicines, supplements, devices, foods, or cosmetics.
Health scams can be found everywhere, promising help for many common health issues, including weight loss, memory loss, sexual performance, and joint pain. In addition, health scams often target people with serious health conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, or diabetes. These scams can cause you to lose money, delay proper diagnosis and treatment, trigger a harmful interaction with other medicines you’re taking, or cause serious injury.
How Can I Spot a Health Scam?
It can be difficult for consumers
to separate fact from fiction when it comes to their health. Many of us would love an easy cure for our ailments or a quick fix to our problems. But most of the time, cures and quick fixes are scams. Here are some red flags to watch out for:
- Products that are offered only by mail or by one company
- Products that make unrealistic promises and use words like “quick fix,” “miracle cure,” “fast results,” or “cure-all”
- Products that claim to use “special,” “secret,” or “ancient formulas”
- Products that claim to be a cure for a wide range of ailments all at once
- Products that claim to cure a disease that hasn’t been cured by medical science, such as cancer or Alzheimer’s disease
- Products that use tactics to pressure you to buy quickly, using phrases like “act now,” “before our limited supply runs out,” or “for a limited time only”
- Products that suggest inside knowledge like “This is the cure our government and Big Pharma don’t want you to know about”
- Products that lack scientific evidence to support their claims and rely on a single “study” or unverified testimonials
- Products that claim to be “all natural” (natural products can still be ineffective or harmful)
How Can I Avoid Falling for a Health Scam?
Between our social media feeds,
online advertising, and TV, we are constantly bombarded with advertising for products that promise to fix and cure all of our health issues. These health issues include conditions many of us worry about, such as aging, weight loss, chronic pain, and more serious health concerns like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. Before you decide to try one of these products, here are some tips to help you avoid falling for a health scam:
- Be skeptical. Now that you have an idea of what to look out for, be skeptical when you encounter an ad for a product or treatment, especially those that promise quick fixes or cures to difficult health issues. In addition, question who is pushing the product. For example, if you’re considering a weight loss fix, is it promoted by an influencer with no real credentials or a registered dietician you can verify?
- Research the product’s claims and credentials. Trustworthy health products are backed by studies from well-known sources, like government health websites or respected medical journals. If you can’t find information related to the product from a reliable source, it’s best to avoid the product or talk to your health care provider about it. You can also search online using the product’s name and adding the words “scam,” “complaint,” or “review” to see if anything pops up.
- Be wary of supplements.
Under federal law, no one can promote dietary supplements for the treatment of a disease, but companies often make false claims like “helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease” or “stops arthritis pain forever.” If you spot claims like these, you know they’re false. In addition, it’s important to know that dietary supplements are not evaluated or reviewed by the FDA for safety and effectiveness. Many dietary supplements contain illegal drugs or hidden substances that could cause serious harm. To learn more about vitamins and dietary supplements, visit the FDA’s page on dietary supplements. - Consult your health care provider. Your health care provider is your best and most important source of information on whether a product is safe for you. Always ask about any product or treatment you’re considering for your health and wellness. Does this product or treatment actually work? Is the research or evidence behind it credible? How will it interact with other things I’m taking? Conversations like these are an important way to keep you safe and healthy.
- Check out helpful sources on fraud. The FDA, along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) monitor and share information on fraudulent products, common scams, and how to avoid them. The FTC also has a way to report health scams that have affected you. Check out the resources below.
Resources
- The FTC provides advice on how to avoid common health scams. If you think you’ve spotted a health scam, tell your friends and family about it and report it to the FTC. The FTC also has information on other common forms of fraud, and you can sign up for the FTC’s free consumer alerts.
- The FDA has information and several resources to help you spot health fraud, including consumer updates about recent scams.
- The New York Times created a health scam quiz. Take it to see how ready you are to spot a scam.
- Military Consumer offers information about the latest scams that may be targeting Veterans and military members.
- TRICARE and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) both offer evidence-based health information for military members, Veterans, retirees, and their families. These sites are a great place to start to learn more about getting and staying healthy.