A Free Public Service

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California.

July 10, 2021

HEALTH FRAUD WARNINGS

Courtesy US Food and Drug Administration

You will never see these warnings on health products, but that’s what you ought to be thinking when you see claims like “miracle cure,” “guaranteed results,” or “vaccine alternative.”

A health product is fraudulent if it is deceptively promoted as being effective against a disease or health condition, but not scientifically proven safe and effective for that purpose, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),

Health fraud scammers play on the desire for a quick or miracle cure. The snake-oil salesmen of old have morphed into the deceptive, high-tech marketers of today. They prey on people’s desires for easy solutions to difficult health problems. That may include Alzheimer’s, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, memory loss, sexual performance, weight loss, and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), influenza and other infectious diseases.

Scammers promote their products with savvy marketing techniques. Health fraud scams run rampant on social media sites and closed messaging apps, such as Signal, Viber, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

Scam promotions may be found in other locations such as convenience stores, gas stations, flea markets and nontraditional stores. They may target persons with limited English proficiency and limited access to health care services and information.

Overseas Orders

Other risks include potentially dangerous or unproven products ordered direct from overseas sources via mail to circumvent normal Customs and FDA inspections and other safety measures.

Consumers can increase their chances of identifying and avoiding health fraud scams by focusing on being smart, aware and careful when purchasing health care products.

Tip-Offs

Here are tip-offs to help you identify scams:

*One product does it all. Be suspicious of products that claim to cure a wide range of diseases. These miracle cures don’t exist – they’re bogus – and the only thing these companies are selling is false hope.

*Personal “success” testimonials. Success stories, such as, “It cured my diabetes” or “It immediately stopped my COVID-19 infection,” are easy to make up and are not a substitute for scientific evidence. Reviews found on popular online marketplaces and social media can be fake.

*Quick fixes. Few diseases or conditions can be treated quickly, even with legitimate products. Beware of language such as, “Lose 30 pounds in 30 days,” “protects from viral infections,” or “eliminates skin cancer in days.”

*“All natural” cure or treatment. Don’t be fooled by descriptions like “all-natural cure.” Such phrases are often used in health fraud as an attention-grabber to suggest that a product is safer than conventional treatments.

*“Miracle cure.” Alarms should go off in your mind when you see this claim or others like it such as, “new discovery,” “guaranteed results,” or “secret ingredient.” If a real cure for a serious disease were FDA-approved, it would be widely reported through the media and prescribed by licensed health professionals.

*Conspiracy theories. Claims like “This is the cure our government or Big Pharma doesn’t want you to know about” are used to distract consumers from the obvious, common-sense questions about the so-called miracle cure.

Health fraud issues can be reported to the US Food and Drug Administration: www.fda.gov for possible legal action.

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