Ebola Scammers Targeting Seniors

The Federal Trade Commission says it has seen an upsurge in the number of “Ebola scammers” targeting older Americans and others. These scammers are making unsubstantiated claims that products containing everything from silver to herbal oils and snake venom can cure or prevent Ebola.

The FTC and Food & Drug Administration reiterate to the public that there are currently no FDA-approved vaccines or drugs to prevent or treat Ebola. There are experimental Ebola vaccines and treatments in development, but they are in the early stages of product development, have not been fully tested for safety or effectiveness, and are in very limited supply.

There are no approved vaccines, drugs, or products specifically for Ebola available for purchase online or in stores. No dietary supplements can claim to prevent or cure Ebola, according to the supplements industry. The FTC recently sent a warning letter to Natural Solutions Foundation of Newton, N.J., cautioning the company to stop marketing its products as a cure for Ebola.

If you’ve seen companies or products touting these claims, the government asks that you report them to the FTC and FDA. The FTC also offers advice on how to evaluate claims for health products, including those that say they cure arthritis, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, among others. 10/19/14 Aging News Alert