Healthy Skepticism Library item: 11484

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Gernburd P, Jadad AR.
Will Spam Overwhelm Our Defenses? Evaluating Offerings for Drugs and Natural Health Products
PLoS Medicine 2007 Sep 18; 4:(9):e274
http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0040274

Abstract:

Summary Points

-Spam, or unsolicited e-mail received from an unknown sender, now accounts for the largest proportion of all messages delivered online.

-Little is known about health-related spam and the spammers behind it.

-This study shows that it is possible to purchase products purported to be prescription drugs and controlled substances, across traditional national and legal boundaries, with one-third of our attempts to do so being successful.

-Buyers should be fully aware that it may not be possible for them to hold spammers accountable for any claims made in their messages, or to get protection from illegal activities resulting from disclosure of personal or financial information to spammers.

-Spammers are challenging our traditional regulatory, licensing, and law enforcement frameworks, and even threatening their relevance.