History has it that centuries ago, explorer Ponce DeLeon searched in vain for a Fountain of Youth. Even today, consumers explore store shelves, sail through a tide of TV and radio ads, and navigate the internet for an elixir to help them maintain a lean, strong body and wrinkle-free skin. Some modern marketers of pills and sprays claim to have found a Fountain of Youth. Beware of danger these products poses. People spend billions of dollars a year on fraudulently marketed health-related products and treatments that not only are unproven and often useless, but sometimes also are dangerous.

Dangers of Taking "Miracle" Products

• Health fraud trades on false hope.
  • It promises quick cures and easy solutions for a variety of problems, from obesity and arthritis to cancer and AIDS. However, the "cures" do not deliver.
• You are cheated out of your money, time, and even your health.
  • Many unapproved treatments are expensive, too, and rarely covered by health insurance.
• Fraudulently marketed health products can have dangerous interactions with medicines you are already taking, and can keep you from getting a proper diagnosis and treatment from their own health care professional.

Tips for Avoiding Fraudulent "Miracle" Products

• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Watch out for "Secret Formulas" or "Breakthroughs."
• Do not be afraid to ask questions about the product. Find out exactly what it should and should not do for you.
• Research a product thoroughly before buying it. Call the Better Business Bureau to find out if other people have complained about the product.
• Be wary of products that claim to cure a wide variety of illnesses—particularly serious ones—that do not appear to be related.
• Be aware that testimonials and/or celebrity endorsements are often misleading.
• Be very careful of products that are marketed as having no side effects.
• Question products that are advertised as making visits to a physician unnecessary.
• Always consult your doctor before taking any dietary or nutritional supplement.

The Federal Trade Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency, collects complaints about companies, business practices, identity theft, and episodes of violence in the media. Please visit FTC site at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or call them at 1-877-FTC-HELP. For more tips on how to protect yourself from various fraud schemes, we invite you to visit our Fraudsection.