Health Fraud Scams

Most of us are willing, and even eager, to try alternative medical treatments in order to improve our health.  We may try these alternatives because we feel that traditional medications are not working for us, or because we believe that standard medical treatments are too expensive.  While some alternative treatments, such as taking yoga or meditation classes to help with depression and anxiety, have been shown to be helpful, there are many products that are sold to unsuspecting patients that can be complete frauds.  The FDA tries to discover and expose these fraudulent products, but there are so many that it is difficult for them to keep up.  As a result, consumers have to rely on their own skepticism and natural doubts to help protect themselves.

How can you tell if a health product may be a fraud?  The FDA has released six tips that should make consumers suspicious.

Six Tips that a Health Product May Be a Fraud

1.  One product that claims it will heal many different health problems.  This is especially common with dietary supplements.

2.  Personal testimonials from anonymous people.  These testimonials may claim that a product cured their illness or that their cancer tumors are now gone.  However, there is no way for you to investigate these claims.

3.  Products that promise a quick solution, such as losing 30 pounds in 30 days or curing a disease in a short period of time.

4.  All natural products may not actually be free of chemicals and dangerous drugs, and there is no way for you to know without an expensive chemical analysis.  In truth, you do not know what is inside these products and the FDA frequently finds false advertising when they have tested a multitude of products.

5.  The words Miracle Cure should be an immediate red flag.  If there really was a miracle cure for a disease or serious condition, it would be widely reported and scientists around the world would be studying it to see if they could verify its success.  It would certainly not be a secret known only to one obscure doctor.

6. Claims of a conspiracy to keep the product off the market.  There is no reason why any government agency would conspire to keep a legitimate, well-researched and documented cure away from patients.  In particular, there is no reason why companies in other countries would conspire to prevent the release of this drug.  In fact, if there really was a miracle cure out there, scientists in some other countries would be buying the product, analyzing the contents, duplicating it and manufacturing it for sale in their nation.  There is no way it could be kept a secret.

Don't be a victim of fraud.  Use your own common sense about whether or not you should trust those ads.

If you want to read more about the FDA tips, you can see their full article at:  http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm341344.htm?source=govdelivery

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