Scams and Near Scams

Prepaid cards: It seems like once a week network news comes along with the story of a person, usually elderly, who has lost money to a phone or Internet scam. 

They probably use the elderly as examples because they are closer to the age of the people who actually watch network news, but the fact is that they are not the most vulnerable. About a year ago a survey revealed that Millennials are more likely to become the victim of a scam artist than any other generation.

In any case, almost every time, their money disappeared by way of a prepaid card. They may have been informed of a relative in trouble or that they had won some money but had to pay a service charge to collect. The creativity of scammers is remarkable. The caller or e-mailer presented them with the problem and told them to buy and mail a prepaid card to handle the matter.

This should be a clear give-away, a red flag as big as their house, but scammers keep calling until they find a victim. Obvious defenses include not answering the phone unless you recognize the number. Valid callers can always leave a message; scammers rarely do. (This also works as a defense against telemarketers and robo-calls as I have mentioned previously.) Likewise the written return address on an email should correspond with the actual email address that shows up when the cursor moves over it. But the biggest warning sign is the request for a prepaid card. 

Toxins: In all my years of researching miracle drugs in the form of dietary supplements and other health products, I have yet to find one that lists detoxing or cleaning the body of toxins to be legitimate. They do not and cannot prove that there are toxins in the body that the body does not naturally and safely get rid of on its own. The science that debunks all these claims is consistent on that point.

Despite this easily available evidence, the products just keep on coming. They promise to detox your body and magically make you feel so much better. Their celebrity endorsers and satisfied customers back these claims. But always in the fine print at the bottom of the ad is the required paragraph about how none of these claims have been approved by the FDA and how the product is not meant to treat or cure any disease. I even commented a while ago on shoe inserts that somehow had detoxing qualities – by supposedly causing wearers to use the bathroom more often.

This is beyond crazy, but it remains a big business. Detox, like prepaid cards, should be a clear sign of a pending scam. In this case, however, customers can always convince themselves that they really do feel better, but they are still out the money for a product that relies on the power of suggestion rather than on the power of science or real medicine.

Science and the Game of Telephone: When youngsters play telephone, they sit on the floor in a line. The leader whispers a sentence in the ear of the first, who repeats what he’s heard to the second, and so on down the line. When the last person relates what she heard it often bears no resemblance to the initial message. It’s a common analogy for miscommunication, but I recently heard it to explain science reports.

A scientist writes a scholarly article about a real finding. Even if she includes all the possible flaws or conditions that still need to be investigated, by the time it becomes an article for a popular magazine may be downplayed. The next iteration, a short news or “health minute” segment, omits most details. Finally, it hits social media, where all subtlety is lost, but people like and repost without a second thought. 

For example, how many stories have we heard about whether or not breakfast is important? Is it OK to skip it? In 2012 it was declared optional. Around 2014 there were some studies saying skipping it leads to weight gain, and others saying it wouldn’t. One in August 2017 said how important breakfast was for kids. Last year, everyone in a particular study gained weight, but the breakfast eaters gained a little less. This year a study says skipping breakfast is bad for your heart. 

Which study are we to believe? – How about none of them until the scientists actually pin something down. Until then, the news media will continue to report each one that comes along as if it is the definitive answer and social media will keep us all “informed.”

This degradation of scientific findings as they pass down the “telephone line” is not really a scam, but it’s something to be very wary of. Unfortunately too few people research the validity of posts before passing them on.

One More Time: Detox

It was almost exactly a month ago that I wrote about the potential dangers of the various detox regimens that were being pressed by numerous health gurus. Now, I never intended this to become a health-oriented blog. It really couldn’t be, because to be popular I would be forced to come up with some guaranteed quick and easy formula, packed with endorsements, ancient wisdom, scientific sounding pronouncements and unspecified clinical trials that treats a long list of ailments. The critical thinking in me, not to mention the integrity, wouldn’t have any part of it.

But I always try to pass along some of that critical thinking to readers by citing examples; and to my surprise, in one short month the subject of detox came up again. This time the emphasis was not necessarily on safety, but on the overall effectiveness.

The main source was a brief, four-minute video on the Vox website with the headline: “Products that promise ‘detox’ are a sham. Yes, all of them. Though they have a long history of duping us.” The video is interesting and worth a quick look.

In brief, they say that a research group asked detox marketers exactly what toxins they were getting rid of and none could give a satisfactory answer. It’s based on erroneous historical medical practices; and unless it is used to treat severe alcohol or drug poisoning,  detox is not necessary and worthless. They label it a health pseudo-science and conclude by saying, “Before you succumb to this incredibly appealing notion, you should know that the idea of using some product to ‘detox’ is nonsense. But this hasn’t stopped clever marketers from selling the idea that we can become, somehow, less toxic by using special products.”

Only a couple of days later an ad came in my email linked to a very long video by a former pediatric heart surgeon promoting his dietary supplement. The same video is found here, where it’s described as “a power wash for your insides.” 

According to the doctor, if you have digestive issues, food cravings, weight gain, morning soreness, low energy and all those skin, mood and health issues, he has the answer. Anyone can restore the healthy body he or she used to have, inside and out.

His discovery is based on "shocking new information" and "a remarkable scientific breakthrough!" There is something wrong inside you and it’s not your fault. He bases this on his experience and impressive medical background – even though, according to him, almost all the other doctors don’t understand. He left his practice to promote this product full-time, because 

all those problems start in the gut where toxins leak into the system.

This is followed by a number of stories about ordinary people and celebrities. He wrote a book, but understands that people who are suffering don’t have time to read all the books. So he came up with a supplement that doesn’t require seeing a doctor or going to a lab. It’s an all-natural pill, based on ancient tradition that you can simply buy from him and take everyday. 

Of course, beneath the video is the usual disclaimer: “The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”

There in one neat package are all the ingredients I have warned about: quick and easy, ancient, natural, celebrity endorsed, revolutionary, scientific, exclusive, a long list of ailments, etc. It is a pill, not the traditional detox, though it did contain the word detox in the headline. Rather it’s based on the idea of “leaky gut syndrome,” which I found on Quackwatch characterized as a fad diagnosis, “not recognized by the scientific community” and a “figment of pseudoscientific imagination."

Several years ago as I was headed into work, I observed one colleague telling another about her fabulous detox weekend – as she sat in the sun smoking a cigarette – enough said!

Read the Fine Print

They seem innocent enough, pads of paper around a display in the aisle at the mall promising a free chance to win the experience of a lifetime – a $59,900 sweepstakes. No purchase is necessary; just fill out the form. It must be very tempting because it looks like about an inch of forms has been torn off from each of six pads.

The forms ask for name, address, phone number, email, age, income, marital status and spouse’s name. That information was once considered somewhat private, but now people apparently are very willing to give it away for free for a chance to win about 60 grand. But they have a better chance to get something else, something much less desirable.

The bottom of the form under the signature line reads: “I consent to receive phone calls, including prerecorded messages and text messages from Promoters at the phone numbers/wireless numbers/addresses above regarding their offers, products and services, including through an automated dialing system.” That’s right, they are voluntarily signing up for the kind of irritating spam messages that everyone is complaining about and demanding action from Congress! They are giving permission to be pestered by robots about time-share opportunities!

Wow! All that personal information must be worth a lot more than $60,000 to the “Promoters.” (The other side of the sheet is filled with terms and conditions in very tiny font.)

Here’s another example. This comes at the end of a 4-page ad in a Sunday newspaper magazine section.

The ad is apparently for a clinic offering addiction recovery services including detoxification. (As soon as I saw reference to detox, I was skeptical; but it acts as a lure for others.)

At the very end of words and pictures showing how wonderful it is, at the very bottom of the page it begins with,  “The images herein are for illustration only.” The images are of happy people. Further on it says that the company “does not guarantee, warrant nor represent successful completion of its program for any of its clients. Results vary by individual, and [the] program may not be suited for everyone.” Then it goes on to say that they might not accept everyone in the program and gives some excuses about why the results for the ones accepted may vary. Finally, the company "is not responsible and expressly disclaims all liability for damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on any information contained in this advertisement.” It directs readers to a website.

Basically, that translates into “maybe and maybe not.” After three-and-a-half pages of happy talk, this is something of a letdown. The company doesn’t promise anything. And they are very adamant about that non-promise. If a client goes through the program and does not get the results expected, it’s not the company’s fault. I would be willing to bet that the first requirement upon entering such a facility is to sign a page or two of documents acknowledging understanding of all their disclaimers.

Part of this song and dance about not being responsible may raise suspicions about the effectiveness of the treatment, but another part must be attributed to a typical reaction among Americans who are disappointed – blame someone else and take them to court. Nevertheless, reading the fine print and all the disclaimers before entering into any agreement leads to better decisions. If it looks too good to be true, guess what.

As the world gets more fast-paced and complex, it becomes of greater importance to pay attention to details. People trying to sell us things, whether it be services, products or ideas, have more tools to trap the unsuspecting and more lawyers to separate them from whatever consequences they may experience for their questionable decisions.

Dangers of Detox Plans

It began with the headline: “The Soy Sauce Colon Cleanse That Left a Woman Brain Dead Shows How Dangerous Viral Internet Trends Can Be.” Looking up “Soy Detox Hoax,” I found an interesting mix of news stories about this tragic event and other sites promoting the practice. On one hand there were serious warnings, but every other entry linked to what appeared to be “How To” information.

The Explore Health site called the practice an “extremely dangerous fad.” A 39-year-old woman tried the soy sauce cleanse and went into cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital. She was revived, but drifted in and out of consciousness for several days. She woke up with severe nerve damage, unable to move, swallow, or speak.

According to Fox News, who gave a similar description of the situation, tests showed extremely high levels of salt in her blood, which can draw water away from the brain.

This was not an isolated incident of a soy sauce overdose. Back in 2013, a 19-year-old man drank a quart of soy sauce on a dare. He began twitching and having seizures, then went into a coma and nearly died from an excess of salt in his body. Too much soy sauce is dangerous; a soy sauce cleanse is a bad idea.

But the problem is not limited to soy sauce. Another search, this time for “Dangers of Detox” yielded numerous articles in the mainstream press and on medical and health-oriented websites warning of the practice in general. They date back more than ten years. The danger is not really news!

Most begin by pointing out that the detox fads come and go, usually driven by one or another Hollywood personality. Here is just a sampling of reliable advice.

NBC News had a story back in May 2007, “Experts Warn of Detox Diet Dangers.” Their expert, a gastroenterologist, concludes: “Your body does a perfectly good job of getting rid of toxins on its own…There’s no evidence that these types of diets are necessary or helpful.” Another expert adds that any attempt to flush the bad stuff from your body, the so-called toxins, also flushes out “good bacteria that keep the intestines healthy.”

 From Live Science in November 2014: “There's no scientific evidence that juice cleanses are a sensible approach to better health.”

 In September 2013 a piece about hidden dangers of detox lists as possible side effects: vitamin deficiency, muscle deterioration, heart palpitations, hair loss, depression, abdominal and digestive pain, reduced immune system, skin problems, anemia, and gallstones. 

Harvard Health discussed it in May 2008. “We tend to forget that the body is equipped with a detoxification system of its own” and “can defend itself very well against most environmental insults and the effects of occasional indulgence.” If you're generally healthy, there is no need. If you are experiencing health problems, “visit your doctor instead of a detox spa.”

Journal of Family Practice in August 2011 published a rather technical document for its members about the dangers of colon cleansing. “Patients may look to colon cleansing as a way to ‘enhance their well-being,’ but in reality they may be doing themselves harm.” They emphasized that there are no proven benefits.

There you have it. Many sources tell the straight facts. Under normal circumstances, bodies are built to detox themselves. Colon cleansing or other detox programs or diets are not beneficial with a high probability of causing serious harm. Your body is not full of toxins. Your colon does not need to be periodically cleansed, and doing so does not support, strengthen or promote any natural processes.

With over 10 years of evidence, warnings and examples of cleansing gone wrong, why would anyone try it? One reason is that it appeals to those low on disciple and critical thinking, looking for easy answers and not necessarily fond of science. They trust Hollywood endorsements more than medical professionals.

Unfortunately, the ads and promotions are so easy to find. Mixed in with the numerous links to stories of the brain-dead woman were such headlines as “Best Colon Cleanses for 2018” and “Best Non-GMO Colon Cleanse,” which has a laughable account of a man who lived for over 150 years and fills the rest of the page with endorsements from satisfied customers.

New Study, Indeed!

Here is another no-brainer for the discipline-challenged.  According to this source, researchers at Harvard University released late last month “a major study” investigating the influence of behavior on longevity.  They used lifestyle questionnaires and medical records from 123,000 volunteers to understand how much longer people could live if they made some simple adjustments to their lifestyle.

The dramatic headline read: Five Habits That Can Add More Than a Decade to Your Life.”  That is an announcement sure to capture attention, especially for people looking for the easy answer, the magic bullet, to ensure longevity.  In this era of fads and gurus one is tempted to suspect such a new discovery would be about a vegan diet, avoiding processed foods with their additives and preservatives, eating only local or organic produce, going gluten-free and shunning the GMOs and fast food, drinking only bottled water instead of tap water or discarding the artificial sweeteners – and don’t forget the periodic detox.  These are the so-called secrets we hear about daily, the warnings we hear about on the news, fears that advertisers pick up on in their promotions and food packaging.  Surely a high-profile study from Harvard with a very large sample size would be able to validate at least some of these popular beliefs about healthy lifestyles.

Actually what they came up with in 2018, they could have easily come up with in 2008 or 1998.  As a matter of fact, except for some of the wording, this was common knowledge in 1968!

Here it is, straight from the article:  “The five healthy habits were defined as not smoking; having a body mass index between 18.5 and 25; taking at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, having no more than one 150ml glass of wine a day for women, or two for men; and having a diet rich in items such as fruit, vegetables and whole grains and low in red meat, saturated fats and sugar.”

Wow!  Imagine that! If we don’t smoke, keep our weight down, drink alcohol only in moderation, exercise, and eat healthy foods, we have a better chance of living longer, even 10 years longer.  Notice that the recommended foods were available 50 years ago, and they made no mention of the fad foods, special fruits (acai berries), super-foods (beet juice), or ancient Chinese secrets with a new one coming into vogue every year like the colors in a fashion magazine.  Where is the mention of nutritional supplements that the majority of Americans pop every morning or evening?

It seems Harvard spent a good deal of time and energy confirming what we knew, or should have known, all along.  No easy answers?  What a disappointment!

Yet Another Magic Bullet

January must be the month for “magic bullets,” products, services and secret tricks to help you avoid the hard work of staying healthy in a simple, but often not affordable, way.  On January 4, I gave examples of magic bullets for physical health in the form of “healthier” foods that are natural, organic or some other special description that has been accepted without proof to be better.  On January 8, I discussed the “brain training” industry and their claims to be able to stave off any number of mental problems. What all these have in common is that they present or imply scary problems, like contaminated food or Alzheimer’s disease, and then try to sell a solution that requires less effort or less critical thinking with an unscientific solution.

The topic this time is detox.  This website gives a detailed description about how popular promotion of detox programs are not legitimate.  The term is a real medical service term “provided in hospitals under life-threatening circumstances—usually when there are dangerous levels of drugs, alcohol, or other poisons in the body.”  What is popularly promoted is not the same.

What's being promoted today as detox is “little different than eons-old religious rituals of cleansing and purification,” but in the twenty-first century they must use science as justification instead of religion.

No scientific evidence exists to prove that detox treatments have any positive effects on the body's ability to eliminate waste products.  They are promoted either by charlatans or by people who do not understand the way the body works.  They are another distraction, an empty promise, a magic bullet that only serves to distract people from what needs to be done on a daily basis to stay healthy. The website goes on in more detail but concludes that it is not possible to “undo lifestyle decisions with quick fixes.”

Nothing is scarier than some unknown threat that may be lurking around the corner waiting to pounce when you least expect it.  The appeal of all these magic bullet solutions is that they offer to let you in on some secret that relieves you from the fear of the unknown, whether it’s pesticides, dementia or imaginary toxins building up in the body.  The snake oil salesmen are more sophisticated than when they drove from town to town in horse-drawn wagons, but their products and methods are pretty much the same.  (The result is pretty much the same too, with people falling for the scientific-sounding jargon without a clue about the probable ineffectiveness and the possible danger.)