H1N1 Scams; Buyer Beware « Liveshots

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H1N1 Scams; Buyer Beware

October 26, 2009 - 1:17 PM | by: Laura Ingle

Scam artists are known to strike when there is the hint of money in the air, and the huge push to find ways to protect against the H1N1 virus is no exception. Public concerns have turned into sales opportunities for some -- but Federal health officials are onto the scammers, and are working to stop their shady practices before someone gets hurt.

The most troubling thing out there, according to the Federal Drug Administration, is the sale of fake Tamiflu pills on the internet. Tamiflu, is available only by prescription, but there are several websites selling pills that manufacturers claim to be the real deal, but are nothing more than aspirin.

The U.S. Food And Drug Administration (FDA) And The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a joint warning letter to web sites marketing fraudulent supplements that claim to help prevent the spread of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The warning letters, are the first to be issued jointly by the agencies which advises marketers that they must discontinue the fraudulent marketing of their product or face legal action. FDA officials said today that so far 80% of manufacturers contacted, have voluntarily changed the wording of the sales pitches for flu related products.

A couple of things to look out for: a "Photon" machine that claims to clean the air with energy waves while helping to boost your immune system. "Swine Flu Masks" which medical experts say can't prevent you from getting the virus, only from spreading it. There is also a "protective shampoo" that is being marketed to help your body fend off the H1N1 virus, which health officials also say doesn't work.

If you spot something suspicious that is being sold to promote fighting the H1N1 virus get in touch with the FDA - officials want to make sure that flu fears don't bring big bucks to those who are trying to take advantage of the public. www.fda.gov. Check out the list of fraudulent products the FDA has found on this website:

Fraudulent 2009 H1N1 Influenza Products List

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/h1n1flu/

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30 Comments

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Tami Sirmon

I would like to know how the collegiate sports teams and the coaching staffs were all vaccinated for H1n1 and I can't even get it for my child. I'm a huge sports fan, but are you kidding me?!!

October 27, 2009 at 11:31 AM

PapaBC

Experimental Antiviral Drug? You take it first.

October 27, 2009 at 11:11 AM

Sandra Kintz

Please go to mercola.com and read the FACTS about the H1N1 so called epidemic. Obama and his people are misleading the public about this flu...like everything else they do. Please, get the facts about it and get it reported on Fox News. Thanks for the good job you all do at Fox. The only news program we watch!

October 27, 2009 at 9:59 AM

John

Right! Like I trust the FDA.

October 27, 2009 at 7:54 AM

Jane

Does anyone know anything about this(?) - I heard that the H1N1 scare is a scam, perpetrated by the AMA (American Medical Association) and the pharmaceutical company that got the contract to produce it (and that they contributed heavily to Obama's campaign. I also heard that the new H1N1 vaccine can cause long-lasting and debilitating side-effects. Does anyone out there have any info on these allegations?

October 27, 2009 at 1:17 AM

Tony

Buyer beware is always good advice, so reiterating that does not mean they have your best interests at heart. Some of the things the FDA and FTC approves of are more dangerous than we want to know, and many of the things they specificaly single out to demonize are beneficial beyond compare with no adverse affects. I peruse the FDA and FTC websites when I want to find an alternative remedy. While I certainly don't dismiss out of hand every proclamation they put out, I know that they are not watchdogs protecting the consumer. They look out for big pharma and other deep pockets. If you can discern the financial interest they are protecting when you read warnings and alerts, it gives you a starting place for your own diligent research. There are two alternative remedies that have been far more effective, far less expensive with far fewer side effects than FDA/FTC approved remedies that I would not be without. One is very effective on bacterial and viral infections and is even used in burn wards to prevent septic developments and on newborns to prevent eye damage from venerialy transmitted infection. It is very effective, very safe, very cheap, and very hazardous to big pharma financial interests if the FDA/FTC were to allow this non patentable cure-all to be publicized and available to all.

October 27, 2009 at 12:08 AM

throwshoesatobama

Why don't you mention the people who are getting sick because of the 'approved' vaccines. FYI they contain Mercury and Squaline (read the inserts that come with the vaccine bottles). And while technically correct that the silver products won't stop the spread of the disease they can alleviate the symptoms and prevent the user from getting the flu. But the Fraudulent Drug Assoc. would never go after the drug companies that line their (and congress's) pockets with cash.

October 26, 2009 at 11:38 PM

Mel Sherwood

I'm sure there are plenty of scams out there, but why show bottles of ionic silver as representative of such? Colloidal and ionic silver are extremal effective preparations useful for a variety of illnesses, in fact, before the advent of antibiotics silver was in common use. My own father, suffering a serious bout of pneumonia, was not responding at all to antibiotics, even Cipro, but after three days on colloidal silver he recovered nicely.

October 26, 2009 at 11:23 PM

Bo

Funny, no where in this article is there a mention of Ionic Silver except in the headline image. It seems all subliminal just to get people to think silver is a main scam alternative. I think because it's the most widely used and effective alternative.

October 26, 2009 at 11:16 PM

Margaret Donahue

Indeed, we need to beware of scams, but must also not discredit off-beat products that really do work and have no side affects. This is of great concern, and I realize the tightrope walk on this issue, but we must somehow protect the supplements that not only work, but build the immune system at the same time.

October 26, 2009 at 11:15 PM

Joe Perkins

Some holistic formulas do work and helped me quite a bit when I was sick. But there are also many so called herbals that are a waste of time and money. The best advice is to use some common sense and ask a herbalist you can trust. Good luck and stay healthy!

October 26, 2009 at 10:54 PM

AC Mase

The image used on the headline is rather misleading- 'ionic silver' is not even mentioned in this 'news' brief. Emphasis on the BRIEF.... as in.... not much useful or well documented information provided by the writer to the reader. Disappointing, Fox.

October 26, 2009 at 10:49 PM

CrevC

THE WHOLE H1N1 FIASCO IS A SCAM, RE-PACKAGED AND RE-SOLD FROM THE BIRD FLU SCARE THAT NEVER HAPPENED. LET'S USE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO SEIZE MORE CONTROL OVER THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY. WHAT A STINKING HOAX!

October 26, 2009 at 10:42 PM

user one

The biggest joke is how there were 1,000 deaths from H1N1 & 24,000 from garden variety influenza and we are suddenly in a "national emergency"...LOL

October 26, 2009 at 10:39 PM

Clayton Miller

Health Science Institute offers to tell me of a "Secret Germ Antidote" that "KNOCKS OUT FLU IN 8 HOURS" if I join for one year ($49).

October 26, 2009 at 10:37 PM

Michael

I think this swine flu stuff is out of control. I think people can reduce their risks of getting this if they often wash their hands, use some common sense, & eat healthy to build up the immune system. Speaking of good health, the FDA should do something useful such as having a complete ban of trans fats & high fructose corn syrup being put in our foods both which are very unhealthy.

October 26, 2009 at 10:30 PM

Bart Towler

Would be nice if somone sent a letter to Obama to make him stop promoting the fraudulent health care plan ...

October 26, 2009 at 10:19 PM

mie

I will trust the products on that list before any federal approved product . Anything that ups your immune system is a help in preventing you from getting sick.

October 26, 2009 at 10:16 PM

Saori Matsumoto

Ionic silver is pictured in your article, but no text about it. Please remove the photo. That is a real product, not a scam! Nurses use silver containing cream for infants eyes when they are born as a natural antibiotic all the time. You could argue it's not always anti-viral, but it IS ANTIBIOTIC!

October 26, 2009 at 10:10 PM

Lyn

Comment - 'FDA - officials want to make sure that flu fears don't bring big bucks to those who are trying to take advantage of the public.' It seems the FDS are protecting their own interests and the companies they pander too.

October 26, 2009 at 10:07 PM

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