How do I protect myself from health and medical scams?
Never buy prescription medication from an unverified online pharmacy, be deeply sceptical of any supplement or treatment promising to cure a serious condition, and verify any medical billing claim against your Explanation of Benefits.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Health scams are particularly exploitative because they target vulnerability — people who are ill, in pain, or desperate for treatment that mainstream medicine has not resolved. Types range from fake online pharmacies selling counterfeit or contaminated medication, to fraudulent supplements claiming to reverse cancer or dementia, to Medicare fraud that bills for services you never received.
For online pharmacies, the safest rule is to only use pharmacies verified by your country's regulatory body. In the US, look for the NABP (.pharmacy) seal or verify at nabp.pharmacy. In the UK, look for the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) logo which links to a confirmed register. Websites selling prescription medications without requiring a valid prescription from a licensed prescriber are operating illegally and the products they ship are frequently counterfeit, underdosed, or contaminated.
Supplements and alternative treatments occupy a legal grey area. In the US, the FDA does not require dietary supplements to prove efficacy before being sold. Any supplement claiming to cure, treat, or prevent a specific disease is making an illegal drug claim, but enforcement is slow. Before spending significant money on a health product, check whether any independent clinical evidence exists — look for studies in peer-reviewed journals rather than the manufacturer's own testimonials. The FTC has information on health fraud at consumer.ftc.gov.
Medicare and insurance fraud affects anyone on a government health programme. Review every Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement you receive and report any charge for a service you did not receive to the Medicare fraud hotline at 1-800-MEDICARE or HHS Office of Inspector General at oig.hhs.gov.
Common red flags
- Online pharmacy sells prescription drugs without requiring a prescription
- Treatment or supplement claims to cure a serious disease with no side effects
- Medicare or insurance EOB shows charges for appointments or equipment you never requested
- Medical equipment company calls offering a free brace or device and asks for your Medicare number
- Health product marketed exclusively through testimonials with no peer-reviewed evidence
- 'Miracle cure' product only sold through one website and unavailable from mainstream retailers
What to do now
- Verify any online pharmacy at nabp.pharmacy (US) or GPhC register (UK) before ordering
- Check health product claims against NIH MedlinePlus or consult a licensed healthcare provider
- Review every insurance and Medicare EOB statement and report unfamiliar charges
- Report healthcare fraud to 1-800-MEDICARE or the HHS OIG at oig.hhs.gov
- Report fake supplement claims to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Never give your Medicare or insurance number to a cold caller
Frequently asked questions
How do I report a fake supplement claim?
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FDA's MedWatch program at fda.gov/safety/medwatch. If you paid for a product that did not work as advertised, you may also be able to dispute the charge with your credit card issuer.
Is ordering medication from Canada or Mexico safe?
Some Canadian pharmacies are legitimate and sell the same branded medications at lower prices, but the FDA prohibits importing prescription drugs for personal use in most cases. The risk is distinguishing legitimate foreign pharmacies from counterfeits using the same websites. Only use pharmacies accredited by CIPA (Canadian International Pharmacy Association).