So what can you do to avoid becoming a victim of health fraud? Plenty. The basic rule of thumb is this: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Here are some other tips:

• Learn to recognize suspicious products by the phrases often used to promote them, such as "quick and easy cure," "scientific breakthrough," "miraculous cure," "exclusive product," "secret ingredient" and "ancient remedy."
• Don't count on promises of a "money-back guarantee." When the product is fraudulent, so is this claim.
• Watch out for anyone claiming that doctors and the medical community are against them and that the government will not accept their discovery. Legitimate health care professionals do not conspire to suppress disease cures.
• Don't rely on testimonials from satisfied customers.
• Be suspicious of products advertised as available from only one source, requiring payment in advance.
• Raise a red flag if a product is advertised as effective for a wide range of ailments. No one treatment can offer hope for a variety of disorders.
• Be careful of unknown health care clinics that require patients to travel away from home to receive treatment. While many clinics offer effective treatments, some prescribe untested, unapproved, ineffective and possibly dangerous "cures."
• Investigate before trying an herbal remedy. Some herbs may contain thousands of chemicals that have not been completely documented. While some may be useful, others could be toxic.
• Watch out for treatments promoted only in the back pages of magazines, over the phone, by mail-order, in newspaper ads in the format of news stories or in 30-minute "info-mercials."