How fraudsters exploit quest for collagen-driven youthfulness: Internet Scambusters #1,073
A debate is raging about the effectiveness of collagen supplements to preserve skin and hair health on which Americans spend around $150 million per year.
Scammers are cashing in on a lack of public awareness about the pitfalls by making misleading claims and even using dangerous additives in some products.
In this week's issue, we identify the 5 most common collagen scams and how to avoid them.
Let's get started…
Scammers Cash In On Americans' $150m Collagen Spend
Who doesn't want to keep their youthful looks? Well, maybe not all of us. But, as we age, wrinkles, dry skin, and thinning hair prompt Americans to spend more than $150 million every year (per NielsonIQ) on one particular supposedly anti-aging product - collagen.
Does it work? That's not for us to say. But we can tell you that, like many other health and beauty products, the selling and marketing of collagen is rife with scams. And some of them could actually cause harm.
The jury's out on whether collagen can really make a noticeable difference to skin health - because of limited research and the fact that much of this (according to Harvard School of Public Health) has been financed by manufacturers and others with a vested interest in its success.
On balance, there do appear to be some modest benefits to skin elasticity. However, the real question for consumers is not so much whether it's effective but whether they're being ripped off or seriously misled by some of the collagen products on sale over the counter and online. And they are.
We don't need to go into detail about what collagen is. Here's a simple explanation from the respected WebMD website:
"Collagen is a protein your body makes naturally. It makes up about a third of all of the protein in your body. It's essential for healthy joints. It also keeps skin elastic to lessen wrinkles. For that reason, collagen supplements are popular."
No wonder the amount Americans spend on it rises by an average of 10 percent every year.
The trouble is that, as a supplement rather than a prescription drug, collagen products are not subject to rigorous control by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This opens the door for scammers.
5 Most Common Collagen Scams
Collagen supplements are made from animal skin, tissue and bones, but there's no agreed formula for quantities, type of application, and the use of additives. As a result, some manufacturers seriously deceive consumers. Here are the most common collagen scams:
- Fake or low-quality products that use minimal amounts of collagen or use poor-quality substitutes. These can fail to deliver any benefits and may even be harmful if potentially dangerous ingredients, like allergens or contaminants, are added.
- Misleading claims promoted in false advertising. Disreputable firms exaggerate the supposed benefits, promising miraculous results without any supporting evidence. Other unproven claims include that collagen supplements can cure eczema, dermatitis, acne, and even contribute to weight loss.
- Dubious marketing tactics. Scammers use fake endorsements from celebrities or pay influencers to promote their products. Sometimes, they use digitally altered 'before' and 'after' images.
- Free trial offers. Unscrupulous sellers trick people into signing up for repeated subscriptions by offering a free trial but hiding the subscription elements in their terms and conditions. Often, these subscriptions turn out to be difficult to cancel.
- Unfounded claims that one type of collagen supplement - for example expensive lotions versus pills - is better than another. Scientific evidence suggests this just isn't true.
How To Protect Yourself From Collagen Scams
As always, the most important step to avoid getting snared by the collagen scammers, is to do your research and to educate yourself. Read product reviews (but not the ones in ads), check for scientific evidence and the reputation of the product and its manufacturer.
Furthermore, as one reputable maker, Illuminate Labs, explains: "Collagen is a type of protein that is the same structurally whether it's included in a powder, capsule or liquid formulation. There is no extra benefit to taking liquid collagen than taking collagen in powder form and adding it to water."
That's worth knowing, since liquid collagen often costs many times more than the powdered product.
Other actions you can take include:
- Getting professional advice from dermatologists and skincare specialists.
- Ignoring claims that use terms that suggest a miraculous, guaranteed or instant result.
- Read the small print, especially for free trials or money-back guarantees.
- Check the label for important ingredient labels such as collagen hydrolysate, hydrolyzed collagen or collagen peptides. Some or all of these terms should be there.
It's also worth noting that collagen supplements change once they're inside the body, especially the digestive system, which may render it far less effective than you might think.
And although, as we said, the FDA doesn't regulate supplements, it does keep an eye on some of the dubious claims that some suppliers make.
The agency runs a searchable Health Fraud Product Database, which is worth referring to, not just for collagen but also other supplements. And it issues warnings when it spots an issue.
For example, among half a dozen collagen listings, the database includes details of a collagen product that was found to illegally contain mercury and hydroquinone, supposedly for skin lightening, which can actually cause poisoning and other dangerous side effects.
Final word to the professionals. Dermatologists recently told the Wall Street Journal that while there's no evidence that taking genuine collagen supplements has an adverse effect, it's far better to try to preserve what's already in your body.
They recommend taking sufficient amounts of Vitamins C, D and E, and calcium, and keeping hydrated, wearing sunscreen, exercising and diet.
This Week's Alerts
New students in danger: As this year's batch of high school graduates prepare to go off to college, they face a whole array of potential scams that exploit their lack of real-world experience. We've covered this topic many times. Check our reports here.
Prime position: You might have read recently about allegations that online retailing giant Amazon misled people into signing up for its popular Amazon Prime service. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against the company and invites people who think they may be victims of any type of subscription fraud to enter a complaint.
That's all for today -- we'll see you next week.
