How to Report Gout Remedy Scams

Gout is a miserable, painful condition. The Mayo Clinic says it causes severe joint pain. Sufferers are often willing to try any remedy to relieve discomfort. Scammers take advantage of this desperation by selling useless products. You can warn other consumers and help shut them down by reporting gout remedy scams to consumer protection agencies and consumer watchdog sites.

Instructions

• 1

  Contact the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to report the gout remedy scam, recommends the Consumer Fraud Reporting website. The FDA provides instructions on its website. It regulates drugs and products that claim to treat or cure specific medical conditions, so it can take action against sellers of worthless remedies.

• 2

  Forward the ad to the scammer's email provider if you received information about the gout remedy in an email message. Most providers will cut off the address if they discover it is being used for fraud or spam. Report the problem to the scammer's website host if the product is being advertised and sold online. Many hosts will disable websites selling worthless products and close scammers' accounts.

• 3

  File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB rates companies and will give them a poor score if they are consistently reported for scams. This warns others to avoid the unscrupulous gout remedy company.

• 4

  Write a report on consumer watchdog websites like Ripoff Report and Complaints Board. This alerts other consumers to the scam and saves them from being ripped off by the same product.

• 5

  Contact your local consumer advocate reporter. Many newspapers and television stations have columns or segments devoted to scams. You can effectively keep others from falling for the gout remedy scam by making sure it gets widespread bad publicity.

• 6

  Report the scammer's phone number to an online database (such as 800notes) if you purchased the gout remedy through a telemarketing call. This warns others who receive a similar call and helps them investigate the company before making a purchase.