How to spot a Health Care Scam!
This month we’re focusing on one of the scariest and most devastating things in healthcare: SCAMS!
Whether it’s a “revolutionary” anti-aging cream or a pill that can help you lose weight—BE SKEPTICAL! Health scams are a multi-billion dollar industry, but they’re completely avoidable. Last week we discussed some of the most common healthcare scams, but scams are constantly changing and evolving! That’s why, this week, we’re going to teach you some of the common tricks to look out for!
Let’s look at some common strategies:
Are they asking for money? Are they asking you to do something?
Scammers wouldn’t scam people if it wasn’t profitable! Watch out for financial incentive—if someone is earning money off of the product, don’t take their word for it! Be careful anytime you pull out your wallet, and be especially cautious if someone only accepts cash or checks. There’s no purchase protection with paper money! It’s not just money, either! Your information is valuable, so be cautious anytime you’re providing your personal or health information.
Who says it’s effective?
Don’t trust testimonials, actors in lab coats, or “9 out of 10 doctors…” These claims are often wholly misleading or entirely false. Also, be cautious of the supplement industry and watch out for buzzwords like “natural” or “organic”. Other words like “vitamins”, “minerals”, or “antioxidants” are real things, but these terms are frequently misused for marketing purposes, and absolutely do not mean something is effective!
Pay attention to FDA guidelines on these supplements. They oversee both medicines and dietary supplements, but the regulations are different. Be a savvy shopper and learn more here before you buy!
A good rule of thumb: if someone other than your health care team is giving medical advice, proceed with caution! They’re not your doctor.
Is there a sense of urgency? Are you afraid?
A common strategy employed by scammers is giving the victim a sense of urgency. This is actually a common part of marketing as a whole, but it’s almost never actually urgent. Before you do anything health-related, consider this: have you thought this through? If the answer is no, then stop! Scammers will frequently make you feel rushed or afraid so that you’ll make a decision without thinking. You’re a savvy shopper—don’t be fooled!
Are they offering a “miracle cure” or a “do-everything” product?
The FTC warns about phrases like “scientific breakthrough”, “miraculous cure”, “secret ingredient”, “exclusive product”, or “ancient remedy.” We’ll give you some hints… If there was a “scientific breakthrough”, your doctor would know about it; if there was a “secret ingredient”, it wouldn’t be secret; and if something is an “ancient remedy”, there’s probably a good reason we stopped using it.
Oh, and nothing is a “miraculous cure”. Even the most reliable of treatments have trade-offs, and nothing treats everything! The FTC uses this example of a bogus claim: “proven to treat rheumatism, arthritis, infections, prostate problems, impotency, ulcers, cancer, heart trouble, hardening of the arteries, and more!” Spoiler alert: it won’t help with any of these things!
There are plenty of common conditions for which science has no cure, including: dementia, diabetes, arthritis, stroke, and lung, heart, kidney, and liver disease. If someone claims otherwise, run the other way!
If you are diagnosed with one of these incurable conditions, it’s perfectly normal to seek out people who claim to have answers. This creates an excellent opportunity for scammers to take advantage of you while you’re most vulnerable. There are millions of people working to find cures for these conditions, but unfortunately, there are many things in medicine that simply do not have an answer yet. People who claim otherwise are probably trying to take advantage of you, so be safe and smart with your wallet and your health!
Now that you’re well-equipped to face the world of healthcare scams! We’ll put these skills to work next week and use them to look at vitamins and supplements!
Are you concerned about a health care scam, or need help figuring out what to trust? I’m here for you—whatever you need!