for example, you can file complaints against U.S.
companies, but there is little than can be done if you
don’t get what was promised from a foreign-based
company.➟ Check with the Better Business Bureau or your attor-
ney general’s office to see if complaints have been
lodged against the company.➟ Check with a relevant professional medical group
such as the American Heart Association or National
Arthritis Foundation to see if they endorse the Web
site or product.➟ Contact your local FDA office (find the number in the
blue pages of your phone book, or go to http://www.fda.
gov/default.htm, shown in Figure 14-11) to find
out if they’ve taken any action against the product or
its marketer.➟ Report fraud to the service provider where the ad was
posted, to the Better Business Bureau, and to the FDA.Here are some good resources for helping you avoid medical scams
and fraud:296
Part III: Protecting Your Wealth and Your Health