Plenty of people itch to make a profit from anything, including anything that scares the public. The same is true of public fears over swine flu.
Sales of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, wipes, antibacterial soaps and sprays such as Lysol certainly skyrocketed in recent weeks. Those products are proven to kill viruses, and health officials have encouraged their use along with regular hand-washing.
But, as state and federal health officials are warning consumers this week, there are plenty of offers out there that are much less credible, if effective at all: Among them are unsolicited e-mails and Web sites advertising drugs that claim to immunize them against or cure them of the swine flu.
On Tuesday, Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper told the Associated Press that these advertisements are attempts at collecting personal information for identify theft.
The Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau have issued warnings of such scams, including a “Flu Survival Guide” for $19.95, and e-mails with links to online pharmacies touting an alleged flu medicine.
These are hoaxes and should be deleted.
Just like with the regular flu, there is no cure for the swine flu. And while health officials are working to develop a vaccine, none exists at this point.
Thankfully, the number of swine flu illnesses appears to be decreasing. If you feel sick, call your doctor. Don’t let fear trick you into one of these hoaxes, which merely steal your money and do nothing for your health.
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