Q.            What is health fraud?

Health fraud is any false, misleading or unproven claim about the cure, treatment or prevention of a disease or medical condition.  Health fraud in general is a serious problem.  No part of the health care system is free of fraud – not supplies, hospitals, insurers, home health care or even physicians.  Fraud can include, but is not limited to treatment, nutrition, mechanical devices, burial fees, drugs and supplements.  Victims of fraud may include family members, friends, caregivers as well as the consumer. 

Q.            What should I worry about?

Health Fraud is dangerous!  Fraudulent products are not properly tested and MAY HARM YOU – they could even kill you.  If you use products or treatments that don’t work, YOU MAY DELAY GETTING THE PROPER CARE – your illness may get even worse.  Fraudulent products or treatments WASTE YOUR MONEY and health insurance usually does not pay for them.

Q.            What are signs of health fraud?

Products or treatments that:

• Are marketed with “guarantees,” or the words “secret,” “suppressed,” “ancient,” “newly emerging research,” or “mystical.”
• Use big scientific-sounding words or other medical mumbo-jumbo (pseudo-medical jargon) in its advertisements.
• Claim to boost or enhance the immune system.
• Require or urge you to stop other prescribed treatments or medications.
• Recommend that you not talk about the treatment or tell your health care provider.
• Are “experimental” and require payment.  Experimental drugs and treatments are almost always free to patient in drug studies or clinical trials.
• Are promoted by personal success stories anecdotes or testimonials.
• Are sold to cure or prevent cancer or treat most every illness and condition imaginable.
• Are discovered or tested in “another country” or are being suppressed by the government
• Come with misinformation about how a disease or condition is contracted, prevented or cured.

REMEMBER: IF IT SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS

Q.            Where can I learn about clinical trials?
Insert link here

Q.            How can I recognize a quack?

Look for these indicators:
A practitioner who states that he/she is a medical professional but has a name that is followed by titles, degrees, or credentials that are unknown or unidentifiable or a practitioner who states that medical treatments are cancerous.

Q.            How can I protect myself?

Ask questions!

1. Is the product or treatment available from multiple sources? If not, why not?
2. What evidence do you have that the product or treatment works?
3. Has printed material been provided to take home and read?
4. Has the product or treatment been approved by the Food and Drug Administration? What specific use(s) was it approved for?
5. What training or experience in treating a particular disease or condition does the provider have?
6. What are the risks of using this product or treatment?

Q.            Where should I report suspected health fraud?

If you know or suspect that a source is making false or unproven claims for health products or services, you can help stop them and protect others by contacting us via e-mail or contact us by using the address below:

Health Fraud Task Force of California
921 11th Street
Suite 300
Sacramento, California 95814