Avoiding Health Scams
Posted by Donna Mae Scheib on December 11, 2018
Avoiding Health Scams
Advertisers and marketers have a psychological secret that they have used again and again to sell their products over the last century: the more someone sees something or hears something, again and again, the more likely that they will accept it as truth. This is why we are constantly bombarded with advertisements everywhere we look: television commercials, billboards, newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and now, there are even algorithms via search engine sites that help social media sites and other web forms target the kind of advertisements that you will see when you are scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, or other websites based off of what you have previously searched on Google. So, although there are products that can be beneficial for daily living and health, there are also scams where products are promoted that are not necessarily truthful. The Food and Drug Administration defines health scams as “products that claim to prevent, treat, or cure diseases or other health conditions but is not proven safe or effective for those users”. Seniors should be wary of these types of scams, especially health-related where a miracle drug is promised to heal a diagnosis or reverse aging. Let’s explore some common health products that are sold and ways to see if they are a health scam or not.
Who is the target audience for these scams?
The target audience, or those that the advertisement is trying to attract to buy their product, is often those who are in pain or fear to be diagnosed with an illness or disease. Many seniors deal with comorbidity or multiple chronic health problems that are difficult to live with; health scams will target these individuals so that seniors might buy and try their product based on the false hope that they can be miraculously cured.
What are the scams selling?
According to the National Institute on Aging, the health scams sell products that currently do not have any cures for though there may be some treatment options. Examples include:
Arthritis cures: Remedies for arthritis are easier to believe because arthritis symptoms tend to come and go. Beware of treatments including magnets, use of copper jewelry, chemicals, special diets, and radiation.
Anti-Aging treatments: An age-old trick that includes diets, pills, and various treatments that promise the fountain of youth. Generally, taking care of your body by exercising, eating healthy, and not smoking will be your best chance to aging well.
Cures for Cancers: This scam is targeted at those who fear or who are diagnosed with cancer and it is best to focus time and energy on science and medicine-based treatments that are suggested by your healthcare providers.
Dietary Supplements: Although vitamins and other supplements may be helpful, it is important to consult your physician because some may not work well with other medications that you are taking, and some may not be safe as all are sold over the counter and may not have completed testing.
Memory aids and devices: Promises of pills and devices that will help keep you “smart” or to improve your memory are likely false products and fear mongering is the sale tactic.
Health insurance: It is best to work with a local agent that will provide you coverage rather than just taking your money. Make sure that they are a licensed company in your state.
What to look out for in a health advertisement:
Instead of asking yourself the question “How could this product or treatment benefit me?”, try asking “What are ways that this product might not be the best-case scenario”. Advertisement scams are going to paint the picture that their product is 100% right for everyone. Be skeptical and look for sales tactics that include questionable material such as:
- Fast acting results and painless cures
- The product is offered only by mail or that they are the only ones who know and sell this product
- Cures a variety of illnesses and ailments
- The product has a special, secret, or ancient ingredient or formula
- Hired actor “physicians” and “patients” claiming their satisfaction with the product
- Claims to cure a disease that hasn’t been cured by science such as Alzheimer’s
- Advanced payment requirements or limited supply that is not going to last long
- Includes a gift or bonus supply of the product if you “buy now”
- Uses a phrase such as “No-risk, money-back guarantee”
It is important to talk with your doctor, specialists, and caregivers before purchasing and trying any new treatment, product, diet, or device. Many times, it will be suggested that a clinical trial is being used for this new treatment. This is typically a good thing and a research study that helps to decipher and compare scientifically if a treatment or product is useful; however, each person’s health is unique and it’s important to remember that many times a promising product might not work with your specific care plan for life-saving reasons.
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