Health Scams
02/26/2025
Health Scams
There are many products on the market that claim to be a cure-all or preventative treatment for certain diseases. Consumers need to be aware, though, that most of these products are scams and are not backed by real doctors or the FDA. Many vitamins or dietary supplements may be advertised by companies to treat or prevent diseases. However, this is false information, shared to convince people to spend money on the company’s product or ‘cure-all’ while never taking into consideration possible negative effects.
What is a Health Scam? A health scam “refers to products that claim to prevent, treat, or cure diseases or other health conditions, but are not proven safe and effective for those uses” (FDA.gov). The dangers of health scams go beyond loss of money and can have far reaching consequences for its victims. At best, the consumer wastes money on products that don’t do anything. At worst, consumers could be using a product that interferes with their prescription drug treatment or delays getting proper diagnoses and treatment. This can lead to serious and maybe even fatal consequences.
Under federal law, companies cannot promote supplements as a treatment of a disease (FTC.gov). Dietary supplements are not the same as prescription drugs. First, dietary supplements are not evaluated by the FDA for things like safety and efficacy (FTC.gov). This means that the supplement may have drug-like effects but has not been reviewed by a licensed physician. Second, these products can interfere with your health provider’s treatment plan. Even natural or holistic supplements can have ingredients that may decrease the effectiveness of your prescription drugs or cause other health problems when used together. Your health provider carefully reviews all your prescriptions to make sure this does not happen.
The best practice is to avoid these types of products or get them approved by your health provider. It’s important to always talk to your health care provider before using any medication, vitamin regimen, or supplement. If you see products that claim to be alternatives to FDA approved drugs or products that promise quick results, know that these are likely a scam. You can also find reliable information about diseases and their treatment at MedlinePlus.gov.
If you believe you are the victim of a health scam, make sure to speak to your healthcare provider, as well as your friends and family. If you encounter a scam health product, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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