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Online Health Scams |
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Online Health Scams
Cyber crime is not a new phenomena, but in recent months North American law enforcement and regulators have witnessed a significant upsurge in the number of fraudulent health care products offered on the web ranging from counterfeit pharmaceuticals to miracle cancer cures. Many of these products are untested and are, at worst, potentially hazardous to consumers as they may contain dangerous ingredients.
One major incident in Canada involving counterfeit pharmaceuticals purchased online resulted in the death of a middle-aged BC woman. The coroner's final report indicated that the anti-depressants she had purchased contained an alarming quantity of heavy metals including arsenic, lead, and aluminium. It is not uncommon for counterfeiters to use heavy metals and other dangerous materials as "fillers" for these drugs. (Source: National Review of Medicine July 2007)
There are myriad online health scams claiming they can effectively treat serious illnesses such as cancer with "herbal remedies." Other fraudulent health products include pills, creams, teas and juices or discount medical devices that don't work or are never delivered.
These scams are particularly egregious since they prey on the most vulnerable people, usually those who are unable to meet their own health care needs financially or those who are desperate because conventional medicine has been unsuccessful in treating their affliction.
In practical terms, these consumers may be spending significant amounts of money on products that provide no benefit for their condition, may cause harmful side effects, or simply fail to provide any effective treatment for their condition. Ultimately these consumers are the victims of health fraud.
In Canada, the Competition Bureau has taken the lead in monitoring and prosecuting these kinds of scams. This past March, the Bureau launched Project False Hope, an education and enforcement initiative aimed at targeting cancer-related health fraud online. As part of this initiative, the Bureau has created two interactive web tools to help consumers protect themselves from becoming victims of online health scams. The Anatomy of an Online Health Scam is designed to teach you how to identify some of the tactics used by scammers selling bogus cancer cures or treatments online. The Health Fraud Awareness Quiz tests your knowledge of scammers' tactics and teaches you how to avoid becoming a victim. The Bureau has also partnered with the Canadian Cancer Society in the launch of the Cancer Fraud Awareness Pamphlet to provide consumers with information on how to protect themselves from fraudulent health claims, to better recognize scams, and to avoid falling victim.
The adage "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" is particularly relevant to this situation and should be observed whenever you're looking to buy online. The best way to protect yourself is through education to provide yourself with the ability to better distinguish between legitimate online retailers and those that are fraudulent. If you have questions or concerns or think you may have been a victim of fraud, don't hesitate to contact the Competition Bureau.