Overview

The purpose of this lesson is to understand what health fraud is and how to avoid it.

Directions

Read the text below and watch the video
Click on next to complete the comprehension quiz

Read

Health fraud involves selling drugs, devices, foods, or cosmetics that have not been proven effective. Keep in mind - if it sounds too good to be true, it's probably a scam. At best, these scams don't work. At worst, they're dangerous. They also waste money, and they might keep you from getting the treatment you really need.

Health fraud scams can be found everywhere, promising help for many common health issues, including weight loss, memory loss, sexual performance, and joint pain. They target people with serious conditions like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, arthritis, Alzheimer's, and many more.

To protect yourself, recognize the red flags such as:

Miracle cure
Quick fix
Ancient remedy
Secret ingredient
Scientific breakthrough

Before taking an unproven or little-known treatment, talk to a doctor or health care professional - especially when taking prescription drugs.

Tip-Offs

FDA offers some tip-offs to help you identify rip-offs.

One product does it all. Be suspicious of products that claim to cure a wide range of diseases. A New York firm claimed its products marketed as dietary supplements could treat or cure senile dementia, brain atrophy, atherosclerosis, kidney dysfunction, gangrene, depression, osteoarthritis, dysuria, and lung, cervical and prostate cancer. In October 2012, at FDA’s request, U.S. marshals seized these products.
Personal testimonials. Success stories, such as, “It cured my diabetes” or “My tumors are gone,” are easy to make up and are not a substitute for scientific evidence.
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” or “eliminates skin cancer in days.”
“All natural.” Some plants found in nature (such as poisonous mushrooms) can kill when consumed. Moreover, FDA has found numerous products promoted as “all natural” but that contain hidden and dangerously high doses of prescription drug ingredients or even untested active artificial ingredients.
“Miracle cure.” Alarms should go off when you see this claim or others like it such as, “new discovery,” “scientific breakthrough” or “secret ingredient.” If a real cure for a serious disease were discovered, it would be widely reported through the media and prescribed by health professionals—not buried in print ads, TV infomercials or on Internet sites.
Conspiracy theories. Claims like “The pharmaceutical industry and the government are working together to hide information about a miracle cure” are always untrue and unfounded. These statements are used to distract consumers from the obvious, common-sense questions about the so-called miracle cure.

Watch

Health Fraud Scams-Don't Let This Happen To You [1:36]

Don't Get Scammed: Beware of Health Fraud [4:38]

Summary

Even with these tips, fraudulent health products are not always easy to spot. If you're tempted to buy an unproven product or one with questionable claims, check with your doctor or other health care professional first.

Health Fraud Scams - Don't Let This Happen to You and Don't Get Scammed: Beware of Health Fraud [4:38] by USFoodandDrugAdmin are in the Public Domain.
Text from Health Fraud by Medline Plus, U.S. National Library of Medicine and 6 Tip-offs to Rip-offs: Don't Fall for Health Fraud Scams by U.S. Food and Drug Administration are in the Public Domain.