What's a health and medical scam?

In a health and medical scam, fraudsters try to sell you products that claim to treat or cure various health conditions. They create fake websites to trick you into purchasing medication, supplies or treatments that don't exist or don’t live up to their medical claims. This prevents you from properly getting diagnosed and receiving treatment by a physician, which can have a serious impact on your health.

Common health and medical scams

Fraudsters create fake pharmacy websites that resemble legitimate retailers. They offer health products at a low cost and often don’t require a prescription. If you make a purchase from a fake pharmacy, you'll most likely never receive the items you ordered. If you do, they're not the original version, which can cause serious damage to your health.

Fraudsters claim that a treatment will quickly and easily cure a medical condition. They offer health treatments for a variety of medical conditions, such as cancer, arthritis or the flu. These fake treatments are usually shared by individuals with no medical qualifications. Often, they make up reasons to explain why the treatment isn't supported by health professionals.

Warning signs of health and medical scams

  • Online pharmacies that offer medication without a prescription
  • Products are sold at low prices compared to the market value
  • Products are promoted by testimonials with people claiming to be cured
  • You're asked to provide upfront costs for treatments and products
  • You're promised quick and effective remedies for serious medical conditions
  • You're required to enter into a long-term contract to obtain treatments or products

Stay safe with our tips

  • Never commit to anything under pressure. Take your time to research and confirm any health-related claims by checking published medical and research papers.
  • If you’re unsure about a medical treatment, talk to a healthcare professional. Ask questions and learn about various treatments and options.
  • Be aware of fake online pharmacies that provide medication without the need for a prescription and offer low prices. Legitimate online pharmacies require a valid prescription from a healthcare professional before they give out any medication.
  • Practice good cyber etiquette. Don’t select links in unsolicited emails, text messages or social media fundraising ads.

Learn more about health and medical scams

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Opens in a new window.

Report fraud when it happens and track the latest data on fraud in Canada.

The Little Black Book of Scams Opens in a new window.

Download the Canadian Competition Bureau's guide to scams in 8 different languages.

Canadian Bankers Association Opens in a new window.

Read about the latest news and trends in fraud awareness and prevention.