How to spot scams related to Parkinson’s disease
My blog posts get spammed almost weekly. Nearly all of it is testimonials about super fixes and even cures for Parkinson’s disease. If I didn’t intervene, the spam would clutter up the comments sections.
Getting spam comments is not exactly breaking news – I’m not alone as a blogger – but what the spammers are peddling frightens me.
It’s easy to dupe a desperate person, and some people with Parkinson’s disease will go to great lengths for a successful treatment, even if it’s unproven. By responding to these scams, they are putting themselves, and possibly others, at risk.
March 1-7 is National Consumer Protection Week. Because health care scams are alive and well, I’ll share a few tips I’ve found to avoid the Parkinson’s version of “snake oil.”
Have Parkinson’s, will travel
There is some awesome work happening to fight Parkinson’s disease across the globe. The U.S., Japan, United Kingdom, China, Canada, and other nations have been at the forefront of neurodegenerative research.
Sadly, medical “professionals” in some of those same countries and many others are offering treatments that are unproven, costly, and even dangerous.
People who are distressed, fearful and suffering are the targets.
Some spend tons of money on travel costs and payment for treatments, which may be required upfront. In some countries, it’s a wild West situation with little oversight.
“Medical tourism” has struck the Parkinson’s world.
When mega rock star Ozzy Osbourne learned he had PD, he traveled to Panama for therapy. While his daughter said the stem cell treatment helped somewhat with his symptoms, I believe that he put himself in dicey territory.
Stem cell therapies are the new darling of the overseas Parkinson’s market. While plenty of valid research is going on through clinical trials around the world, there currently is no FDA-approved therapy using stem cells for Parkinson’s disease.
Recognize a bogus story
Scammers love to use personal testimonies that a product works. They may sound convincing, but the perpetrators are just trying to make a buck.
Check out this portion of a testimonial someone submitted for the comments to one of my blog posts. (Names are redacted for obvious reasons.)
Despite trying many conventional treatments for Parkinson’s, nothing brought lasting relief. Then I discovered the XXXX treatment program from Dr. XXXX at XXXXX Clinic that I found on Youtube. I found their contact at www.XXXXXXXX.com. Within 6 months of starting the program, my symptoms were completely gone, something I never thought possible.
Found on “YouTube”? Symptoms “completely gone” in only six months? If it sounds too good to be true, you can bet that it is.
Wellness products abound
It seems there’s a supplement to solve every human malady or prevent new ones. This is especially true for dementia and memory loss, which are closely associated with Parkinson’s.
People spend billions of dollars each year on pills, creams and powders that don’t deliver. The sellers cheat buyers out of money and time.
Words like “natural” don’t necessarily mean something is effective or even safe. Watch out for claims that include “helps prevent” “stops pain forever,” and “breakthrough formula.”
Do a little research and see if other people have red-flagged a supplement you are considering. And always ask your doctor if a certain supplement will mix well with your Parkinson’s medications.
There’s good stuff out there
Health care fraud is an epidemic. The faster Parkinson’s grows, the more scams will surface.
I also found it hilarious that many of these submissions use the exact same wording but they are from different commenters. I shouldn’t be surprised by that. Hey, “Donna K,” “Eliz,” “Eliza,” “Sex porn,” and “Susan Baker,” stop trying to spam my website!
It’s important to note that there’s no cure for Parkinson’s at this moment. Even the claim of reversing the progress is bunk.
But it’s also an exciting time. There are newly tested and validated therapies coming at us increasingly. This keeps hope thriving.
And remember, exercise as therapy is almost never a scam. Be sure to go outdoors for a walk today.
If you spot a scam, or are a victim of one, visit the FTC website.
The only positive about the scam comments you receive on your blog is that they illustrate that this blog is getting out to many people…many people who need it and can benefit from what you share. The outreach is great enough that the scammers have taken note. Thanks Colleen!
That is a thought the made my day. Way to think positive!
Yes. There is so much spam and false advertising. It’s hard to know just what is valid and what is false. I check review sites before making decisions to spend money. I have found some products to be helpful but I have also spent money on products with little to no help. Thankfully, I’ve only lost $ and no harmful outcomes. And AI is only making it worse. We do represent a big target for marketers to reach out to. Oh well. I’ve accepted it comes with having PD.
Thanks for the additional tips. And I agree, there’s a whole list of things we have to accept, eh?