Beware of medical scammers: Know how to protect your family

When you or one of the family members is unwell and seeking medical treatment, you want to trust that the doctors and medical professionals will take good care of you.

Unfortunately, there are people out there who take advantage of vulnerable patients and their families by using fraudulent methods to scam them out of their hard-earned money.

Here’s how to protect yourself and your family from medical scammers in India:

Medicine scam:

One common type of medical scam in India involves Ayurvedic medicine. Scammers prey on the emotional and vulnerable families of patients by luring them with a "miracle cure" - a special Ayurvedic concoction.

These fraudsters can be found outside medical facilities, and they will tell you that the treatment they offer is available at an Ayurvedic store or medical facility.

They will assure you that the patient will recover soon and their health will be restored. However, this is far from the truth.

The reality:

When the patient's family believes the scammer's claims, they are often led to suggested medical facilities which are not always authentic. Here, they are billed for exorbitant amounts - sometimes reaching lakhs of rupees - for medicines and treatments that are not effective.

The patient's condition may worsen because they are not receiving proper treatment, leading to serious health complications.

Unfortunately, recovery is often not possible, and the family loses both their money and their family member.

Protect yourself: 

To protect yourself and your family from such medical scams, it's important to always remain vigilant and inquire about everything.

Do not trust strangers outside medical facilities who offer miracle cures. Always verify the credentials of the medical facility and the doctors who will be treating the patient.

Check for reviews and feedback from previous patients to ensure that the facility is authentic and has a good track record.