Scammers have been selling fake health products for hundreds of years. They will promise everything from weight loss to a cure for cancer in exchange for your money. These scams aren’t only a waste of money, they can be dangerous. Unproven medical treatments can be damaging to your health and even deadly.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers these 6 tips to spot fake health products:

• One product does it all. Be suspicious of products that claim to cure a wide range of diseases. A New York firm claimed its products marketed as dietary supplements could treat or cure senile dementia, brain atrophy, atherosclerosis, kidney dysfunction, gangrene, depression, osteoarthritis, dysuria, and lung, cervical and prostate cancer. In October 2012, at FDA’s request, U.S. marshals seized these products.
• Personal testimonials. Success stories, such as, “It cured my diabetes” or “My tumors are gone,” are easy to make up and are not a substitute for scientific evidence.
• Quick fixes. Few diseases or conditions can be treated quickly, even with legitimate products. Beware of language such as, “Lose 30 pounds in 30 days” or “eliminates skin cancer in days.”
• “All natural.” Some plants found in nature (such as poisonous mushrooms) can kill when consumed. Moreover, FDA has found numerous products promoted as “all natural” but that contain hidden and dangerously high doses of prescription drug ingredients or even untested active artificial ingredients.
• “Miracle cure.” Alarms should go off when you see this claim or others like it such as, “new discovery,” “scientific breakthrough” or “secret ingredient.” If a real cure for a serious disease were discovered, it would be widely reported through the media and prescribed by health professionals—not buried in print ads, TV infomercials or on Internet sites.
• Conspiracy theories. Claims like “The pharmaceutical industry and the government are working together to hide information about a miracle cure” are always untrue and unfounded. These statements are used to distract consumers from the obvious, common-sense questions about the so-called miracle cure.

Learn more about fraudulent health products.

We hosted a live Twitter chat yesterday as part of National Consumer Protection Week. We partnered with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to answer your questions about consumer topics, like identity theft, scams and fraud.

You can find some of the most useful questions and answers below:

Question: Where/how do I file complaint online?
Answer: You can find links to file consumer complaints on USA.gov. If the complaint is about a financial product (like a mortgage) or service, learn how to submit a complaint.

Question: What’s the agency’s position on regulations enforcing simpler, shorter contracts for bank issued consumer credit cards?
Answer: Check out the CFPB’s Know Before You Owe campaign to learn more about credit card agreements.

Question: What steps can consumers take if they suspect tax fraud?
Answer: You should contact the IRS if you expect tax fraud.

Question: How can we best protect our children from identity theft?
Answer: The FTC has resources about protecting kids’ identities.

Question: What happens after a consumer complaint? Is there consumer feedback?
Answer: Yes! It’s the fourth step in the CFPB’s complaint process. You can find the consumer complaint database online.

Question: Any new informational videos or mobile apps focused on consumer protection available or in the works?
Answer: We have compiled some consumer protection videos on our YouTube channel. Many government agencies offer mobile apps to protect consumers. You can see the full list in the mobile app gallery on apps.usa.gov

Question: What are we doing about crushing student debt? It’s killing the American Dream
Answer: Great question. Check out the CFPB’s Domino Effect campaign for more information about dealing with student debt.

Question: What should you do if you’ve been contacted by a scammer impersonating the government?
Answer: This is the worst. Here’s advice from the CFPB on recognizing a government impersonator. File complaints about scammers at ftc.gov/complaint. Learn more about government imposters.

Question: What new resources do you have about the intersection of social media and consumer protection?
Answer: You can use social media profiles to interact with companies when you have a complaint and protect your rights. The FTC has lots of information on social media and endorsements, background checks, debt collection, and more at www.business.ftc.gov.

Question: What’s the number one tip to avoid a health care scam or health insurance fraud?
Answer: One tip: Beware of “medical discount” scams. They say they’re insurance, but they aren’t.

Question: If consumers discover they’re the victim of identity theft, what are the easiest steps to take to repair the damage?
Answer: If you’re a victim of identity theft, take these steps immediately to help repair it. If you’re unable to remove incorrect information from your credit report, file a complaint with the CFPB.

Find all the questions and answers from our NCPW chat on Twitter.

A chance to try something out for free? What have you got to lose? It might be more than you think.

Sales pitches and financial advice come at you from every direction—by phone, by mail, and every time you read an ad, go online or turn on your TV. It can seem like a full time job just to sort it all out, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Government agencies, consumer organizations and advocacy groups join forces during National Consumer Protection Week, March 3-9 with shopping strategies and consumer tips to empower you to make better buying decisions and protect your rights in the marketplace.

Start learning now with these tips:

DID YOU KNOW:

• A free mobile app can help you check any product or vehicle, new or used, to see if it’s been recalled or has safety complaints? Keep up with recent recalls of things you may have around the house or check on that great thrift shop bargain before you buy. Use the Recalls.gov app and mobile site to search by product type and brand name.
• When your wallet is lost or stolen, there are eight steps you need to take right away (PDF)? A thief won’t waste time trying to cash in on your loss. Learn now so you’ll be ready to protect your identity and your credit as soon as your wallet goes missing.
• A new federal agency is working to eliminate deceptive and unfair lending practices? Established in 2010, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) works to make sure providers of mortgages, credit cards, student loans and banking services market their products honestly, clearly and legally. Learn more about their work, and their simple tips for protecting yourself.
• Scammers see tough economic times as an opportunity? Job scams are abundant, as swindlers “guarantee” you an unadvertised job, try to get you to pay for their placement services or tell you that you can get rich by working from home. Learn more about financial scams and saving money at the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer.gov.
• There’s a formula for complaining effectively? If you’re not satisfied with a product or service, use the Consumer Action Handbook’s sample complaint letter to let the company know where they went wrong and how you want them to fix it. To get the free Handbook or its Spanish counterpart, la Guía del Consumidor, visit the consumer protection sections of USA.gov or GobiernoUSA.gov.

You can ask us your consumer questions during a special National Consumer Protection Week online Q&A session. In partnership with the Federal Trade Commission, we will connect you with government resources to answer your questions during the live event on Wednesday, March 6 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST. Find out about the latest scams, how to protect your family from identity theft, and more. To participate, submit your questions during the event on Twitter using the hashtag #NCPW.

Ask us and the Federal Trade Commission during our live chat on March 6 at 2 p.m. EST. Get all the detail on how you can participate.