Diet Scams - Fighting Consumer Fraud

Information | Filing Complaints | Report Adverse Reactions

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Information about scams

FTC Guidance to Media on False Weight-Loss Claims
The staff of the Federal Trade Commission's “Red Flag” education campaign to assist media outlets voluntarily to screen out weight-loss product ads containing claims that are too good to be true. http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/12/weightlossrpt.htm

Healthy Weight Network
Weight and eating books and information by recognized scientific experts. The site offers scientific research on dieting, the failure of weight loss programs, eating disorders, obesity, overweight, size acceptance, diet quackery, and moving ahead with the nondiet health at any size paradigm. http://www.healthyweight.net/

The National Council for Reliable Health Information (NCRHI)
A non-profit, tax-exempt voluntary health agency that focuses its attention upon health fraud, misinformation and quackery as public health problems. Its officers and board members serve without compensation. NCRHI, Box 1276, Loma Linda, CA 92354-1276
http://www.ncrhi.org/

Quackwatch, Inc.
"Your Guide to Health Fraud, Quackery, and Intelligent Decisions"
A member of Consumer Federation of America, is a nonprofit corporation whose purpose is to combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, and fallacies. Quackwatch, P.O. Box 1747, Allentown, PA 18105.
http://www.quackwatch.com/

File a complaint about possible fraud

Consumer Response Center
You can file a complaint with the FTC by contacting the Consumer Response Center by phone: toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357); by mail: Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20580; or through the Internet, using the online complaint form. Although the Commission cannot resolve individual problems for consumers, it can act against a company if it sees a pattern of possible law violations.
https://www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.htm
For more information:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-health.htm

Report an adverse health reaction

If you think you or someone in your family has experienced a serious reaction to a medical product, you are encouraged to report it. You can report your adverse experience by telephone by calling the FDA (888) 463-6332. Or you can file a report on line by going to the above website. If you have seen a physician, you can encourage the physician to report this adverse reaction. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report/consumer/consumer.htm

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