Many people with a variety of medical conditions look for additions or alternatives to conventional medical treatment for their disease. Some of these treatments may actually help people, while others have no effect, or are harmful.

Some of these latter products and treatments are known by those who sell them to be ineffective. Health fraud is the promotion of a health related product or treatment known to be false or unproven.

Health fraud is not a new phenomenon: People have sold phony treatments for various illnesses and conditions for many years, despite the best efforts of health care providers and regulatory agencies to reveal the false or unproven claims and prosecute offenders.