Beware of Kidney Scams!
If you have kidney disease, you’ll likely come across products claiming to cure your kidneys, repair them completely, or boost their function quickly. These scams often come as herbal remedies, twisting bits of real data to seem effective. Their websites might even feature glowing testimonials from fake people using stock photos or stolen images.
The reality? There is NO cure for kidney disease. You can’t repair or undo the damage to your kidneys. What you can do is live a healthy lifestyle and eat a balanced diet based on your lab results (your doctor and a renal dietitian can help). Making recommended changes might ease the burden on your kidneys and potentially improve their function. But taking so-called “magic pills” won’t help and could actually worsen your condition, leading to kidney failure. Any promise of a cure should be a major red flag!
What to Do if You’re Targeted
If you’ve realized that you’ve fallen for a kidney treatment scam, please don’t be too hard on yourself—you’re not alone, and these situations can happen to anyone.
The most important thing now is to take action.
- First, stop any further communication with the scammer and avoid sharing any more personal information or money.
- Reach out to your healthcare provider or transplant team to review any treatments you’ve been told about—they can help guide you toward safe and effective options.