BEWARE OF HEALTH PRODUCT SCAMS
You've seen those ads at the back of magazines, the ones that promise "Lose 30 pounds in 30 days!" or "Miracle pill melts fat!" Do these companies really have some magical products that will answer all your weight-loss prayers?
The answer is NO. Every year, girls and women waste millions of dollars on scam health and diet products. Hoping to feel better about themselves or find an instant solution to their body worries, teens often fall victim to products and devices that do nothing more than cheat them out of their money, and possibly do more bodily harm than good.
How can you avoid being scammed by a worthless product? Though health fraud marketers have become more sophisticated about selling their products, these rip-off artists often use the same old phrases and gimmicks to gain teenagers' attention - and trust. You can protect yourself by learning some of their techniques.
Take a look at these products' promotions. They contain certain "tip-offs" that they are scams. You can learn to look out for these tip-offs, when you're deciding whether to try a health product unknown to you:
Scam #1: Calling a Product "Natural"
As in, "Healthy, simple and natural-way to help you lose and control your weight." Don't be fooled by the word "natural." It's often used in health scams as an attention-grabber, because it suggests a product is safer than pills or drugs. But "natural" doesn't necessarily mean safety - after all, some plants are very dangerous to consume (poisonous mushrooms can kill you, for instance). Besides, more than half of the drugs you see in drug stores are from "natural" sources, including aspirin. The term is really meaningless.
Scam #2: Claiming a Product is Time-Tested or a New-Found Treatment
For example, "Miracle solution to losing weight!" Any time you read claims of an "innovation," "miracle cure," "exclusive product," or "new discovery" or "magical" - you should be very suspicious. Think about it - if a product was really a cure for a serious disease, it would be widely reported in the media and prescribed by regular doctors - not hidden in an ad in the back of a magazine, web site or late-night infomercial.
Scam #3: Ancient Remedies
Such as, "This amazing product is formulated using proven principles of natural health based upon 200 years of medical science." Claims that a product is based on "ancient remedies", "folklore" or "tradition" are very tricky. They seem to suggest that these products have been around for so long, you can trust that they are safe and effective. But some herbs that were used in ancient times for medicinal purposes carry dangerous risks. Old doesn't equal good for you, or even useful.
Scam #4: Satisfaction Guaranteed
You've probably seen ads that claim, "Guarantee: If after 30 days you have not lost at least 4 pounds each week, ... your uncashed check will be returned to you." Yeah, right... good luck getting your money back! Marketers of fraudulent products rarely stay in the same place for long. If the product won't work, you won't even be able to find them - your complaints will probably come back marked "No such company at this address." That's why these fakers can afford to be generous with their guarantees - because they won't be sticking around to live up to them.
Scam #5: Promises of Easy Weight Loss
For example, "Finally, rapid weight loss without dieting!" For most people, there is only one way to lose weight: Eat less food (or fewer high-calorie foods) and increase exercise. If there were really a magic way to lose weight, don't you think everyone would know about it? The basic rule is, if it seems too good to be true - it isn't true.
Scam #6: Meaningless Medical Jargon
You'll see ads that talk about "Hunger Stimulation Point (HSP)", or say "thermogenesis, which converts stored fats into soluble lipids", or "One of the many natural ingredients is inolitol hexanicontinate." Terms and scientific explanations such as these may sound impressive - but they are totally made up! Fancy-sounding terms are a way of tricking you into thinking these companies have something good. Actually, they are a tip-off that the companies are trying to fake you out with big words that are nonsense.
The bottom line is, there are NO miracles to be found in pills. In fact, some pills could make you very sick or even kill you. The safest way to be is to treat all diet supplement ads you see as FICTION - not fact. Being in good shape is about eating healthfully, exercising and understanding that weight loss happens over time, not instantly. Don't make some scam artist rich by letting them put your health at risk!