Everything from supposed flu vaccines to health pandemic defense kits are being peddled online, and BBB advises consumers to contact health care professionals, rather than taking things into their own hands through the Web.
"There is an enormous amount of media coverage regarding the delay in delivery and current low inventory of H1N1 vaccine which is enough to inspire scammers to take advantage of the public's anxiety about the situation," said Lynda Pasacreta, chief executive officer of Better Business Bureau. "At best, these products don't work. At worst, they're dangerous. They waste people's money but, more importantly, they might keep them from getting medically sound treatment."
Scams can put consumers' health at risk by taking medicine purchased from sites that don't require a prescription for prescription-only drugs, said BBB officials.
Federal agencies in the US have found contaminated and counterfeit pharmaceutical products, including Tamiflu, a prescription drug used to treat H1N1 patients, they said. What was sold as the generic version of Tamiflu actually contained vitamin C and other substances that cannot treat nor prevent the H1N1 virus.
BBB offers some tips for avoiding H1N1 flu scams:
Don’t fall for false claims. Be wary of promotions using words such as "scientific breakthrough," "miracle cure," "secret ingredient," or "ancient remedy." Don't fall for personal testimonials or claims that a product is a quick, effective way to treat or cure an illness. They may sound convincing, but are not substitutes for scientific proof. To report a suspicious ad claim regarding a health product you can file a complaint with the Competition Bureau at www.cb-bc.gc.ca
Know who/what you are dealing with. Avoid websites that don't provide the company's name, physical address, phone number or other contact information.
Go to official sources of information. Follow health advice only from a trusted source, and don't believe product claims to prevent or cure swine flu. The Federal government website www.fightflu.ca, can provide you with current information about prevention, treatment and H1N1 statistics.
Do not go online to get the vaccine; go to a clinic. If you are having challenges finding the flu vaccine, check B.C.'s Influenza Vaccine Clinic Locator www.health.gov.bc.ca/flu/
What happens if I have H1N1? According to Health Canada, early research indicates that there are two prescription antiviral drugs, Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza) that are effective in treating the H1N1 Flu Virus, however, your doctor should be prescribing and administering these drugs to you. Any website claiming generic versions of the drugs may have other ingredients which can cause severe reactions in some people.