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'Miracle' Health Claims:
Add a Dose of Skepticism
Whether they're looking for a short cut to losing
weight or a cure for a serious ailment, consumers may be spending
billions of dollars a year on unproven, fraudulently marketed,
often useless health-related products, devices and treatments.
Why? Because health fraud trades on false hope. It promises
quick cures and easy solutions to a variety of problems, from
obesity to cancer and AIDS. But consumers who fall for fraudulent
"cure-all" products don't find help or better health.
Instead, they find themselves cheated out of their money,
their time, and maybe even their health. Fraudulently marketed
health products can keep people from seeking and getting treatment
from their own healthcare professional. Some products can
cause serious harm, and many are expensive because health
insurance rarely covers unapproved treatments.
To avoid becoming victims of health fraud, it's
important for consumers to learn how to assess health claims
and seek the advice of a health professional.
Common Health Fraud Targets
Officials at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) say health fraud
promoters often target people who are overweight or have serious
conditions for which there are no cures, including multiple
sclerosis, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, HIV and
AIDS, and arthritis.
How to Spot False Claims
When evaluating health-related claims, be skeptical.
If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Here
are some signs of a fraudulent claim:
- Statements that the product is a quick and effective cure-all
or diagnostic tool for a wide variety of ailments. For example:
"Extremely beneficial in the treatment of rheumatism,
arthritis, infections, prostate problems, ulcers, cancer,
heart trouble, hardening of the arteries and more."
- Statements that suggest the product can treat or cure
diseases. For example: "shrinks tumors" or "cures
impotency."
- Promotions that use words like "scientific breakthrough,"
"miraculous cure," "exclusive product,"
"secret ingredient" or "ancient remedy."
For example: "A revolutionary innovation formulated
by using proven principles of natural health-based medical
science."
- Text that uses impressive-sounding terms like these for
a weight-loss product: "hunger stimulation point"
and "thermogenesis."
- Undocumented case histories or personal testimonials by
consumers or doctors claiming amazing results. For example:
"My husband has Alzheimer['s disease]. He began eating
a teaspoonful of this product each day. And now in just
22 days he mowed the grass, cleaned out the garage, weeded
the flower beds and we take our morning walk again."
- Limited availability and advance payment requirements.
For example: "Hurry. This offer will not last. Send
us a check now to reserve your supply."
- Promises of no-risk "money-back guarantees."
For example: "If after 30 days you have not lost at
least 4 pounds each week, your uncashed check will be returned
to you."
To read the rest
of this excellent article on health fraud, produced by Federal
Trade Commission, please click here: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/health/hea07.shtm
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