Health Fraud Scams

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Health fraud scams refer to products that claim to prevent, treat, or cure diseases or other health conditions, but are not proven safe and effective for those uses. Health fraud scams waste money and can lead to delays in getting proper diagnosis and treatment. They can also cause serious or even fatal injuries.

 

Health Fraud News

• FDA warns consumers not to purchase or use Umary and Amazy products as they may be harmful to your health
• FDA warns consumers to not purchase or use unapproved inhalant products marketed for alertness and energy boosting
• FDA Warns Consumers Not to Use Optimized Plant Mediated Solutions (OPMS) Black Liquid Kratom 
• FDA, FTC Continue Joint Effort to Protect Consumers Against Companies Illegally Selling Copycat Delta-8 THC Food Products 
• Investigation of Illnesses: Diamond Shruumz-Brand Chocolate Bars, Cones, & Gummies (June 2024)
• FDA Issues Warning About Certain Supplements Substituted with Toxic Yellow Oleander 
• Tianeptine
• Skin Facts! What You Need to Know About Skin Lightening Products
• Warning Letters and Test Results for Cannabis-Derived Products
• Health Fraud & COVID-19: What You Need to Know (Podcast)

More Health Fraud News

Health Fraud Information

• Warning Letters
• Recalls
• Press Announcements
• Public Notifications and Safety Alerts
• For Consumers

Resources for You

• How to Spot Health Fraud
• Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List
• Office of Criminal Investigations
• Medication Health Fraud
• Tobacco Health Fraud
• Compliance Policy Guide Section 120.500 - Health Fraud
• FDA on Facebook and Flickr
• FDA's Youtube Channel

Spotlight

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

FDA is working with U.S. Government partners, including CDC, and international partners to closely monitor an outbreak caused by a novel (new) coronavirus.

Health Fraud Product Database

This database includes unapproved products that have been subject to FDA health fraud related violations.

6 Tip-offs to Rip-offs: Don't Fall for Health Fraud Scams

A health product is fraudulent if it is promoted to treat a disease or condition, but not scientifically proven safe and effective for that purpose.

Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-derived Compounds, Including CBD

The FDA is working to answer questions about the science, safety, and quality of products containing cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds, particularly CBD.

Advisories and Alerts

Advisory Letters

The U.S. FDA issued letters to these companies for illegally marketing products for the treatment or prevention of serious diseases. Thirty days after FDA issued these letters, the companies listed have failed to voluntarily cease illegally marketing products for serious diseases.

Registrar and Registry Abuse Complaints

The U.S. FDA sent abuse complaints to registrars managing websites that offer any unapproved drugs or uncleared devices, or potentially counterfeit, controlled, adulterated or misbranded products to U.S. consumers in violation of U.S. law.

Fraudulent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Products

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is issuing warning letters to firms for selling fraudulent products with claims to prevent, treat, mitigate, diagnose or cure coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Health Fraud Recalls

The page provides information gathered from press announcements and other public notices about certain recalls of health fraud related products regulated by FDA.

Report a Problem

Report a Problem to FDA

Consumers can play an important public health role by reporting to FDA any adverse reactions or other problems with products the agency regulates. Information on how to report a problem.

Reporting Unlawful Sales of Medical Products on the Internet

Report a website that you think is illegally selling human drugs, animal drugs, medical devices, biological products, foods, dietary supplements or cosmetics.

MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program

Your FDA gateway for clinically important safety information and reporting serious problems with human medical products.

Consumer Complaint Coordinators

To report adverse reactions or other problems with FDA-regulated products, contact the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator for the state in which you reside.