(October 7, 2008)

Q - What action has the Federal Trade Commission recently taken against questionable cancer cures.

The Federal Trade Commission has announced 11 law enforcement actions challenging deceptive advertising of bogus cancer cures. The FTC charged the companies with making unsupported claims that their products cured or treated one or more types of cancer. In each case, the company is charged with violating the FTC Act, which bars deceptive claims.

Some complaints allege that the companies also falsely touted clinical or scientific proof for their products. The companies will be required to notify consumers who purchased the products challenged in the complaints that there was little or no scientific evidence demonstrating the products’ effectiveness for treating or curing cancer. They also must urge these customers to consult with their doctors about the products. In addition, the companies will be prohibited from selling or disclosing their consumer lists to others.

The products the companies marketed include essiac teas and other herbal mixtures, laetrile, black salve (a corrosive ointment), and mushroom extracts.

The FTC also announced a new Web site about bogus cancer cures.

www.ftc.gov/curious

The site tells consumers how to spot and report bogus claims they see online, and urges people with cancer to talk to their treatment team about any products they’d like to try.

The site features a video and includes a list of resources on cancer treatments from a variety of agencies within the federal government. Information is provided in English and Spanish.

For a full report, please see:

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/09/boguscures.shtm

Q-What is our scheme of the week?

A- Telephone scammers in Canada love Americans. If they can concoct a convincing story, they can get people to send them thousands of dollars. We now have the “grandparent scam”. The caller pretends to be a grandchild in trouble in Canada who needs money immediately. The caller often says he’s been arrested, was in a car accident or had some type of medical emergency. This deviously clever con is very effective because it catches the potential victims off guard and tugs at their heartstrings. The sort of scam, based on an “emergency situation” has been around for years. But the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre, also known as PhoneBusters, reports a dramatic increase in complaints in recent months – especially those linked to grandparents.