Red Flags of Health Fraud



Learning to recognize Health fraud. Senior man calling about his credit card account.

Health fraud scams refer to products that claim to prevent, treat, or cure diseases or other health conditions. Many of these scams involve 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 someone from getting needed treatment.

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

Learn to recognize the red flags of health fraud 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.

FDA: Food and Drug Administration

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