After spending much of 2020 in a socially distant environment, options to go to the gym or other favorite work out class was limited, unless it was online. Better Business Bureau is ringing in 2021 with a resolve to provide tips to help people avoid falling prey to overstated weight loss advertisements and scams.

To help avoid weight loss scams, BBB recommends the following:

• Always be wary of advertisements and customer endorsements promising “miracle” results or weight loss
• Check a product’s ingredients with the FDA.
  • Be wary of a lack of ingredient list.
• Read all terms and conditions for any weight loss product.
• Research the company with bbb.org before purchasing. 
• Be wary of free trial offers, and before signing up, understand all the terms and conditions. 
• Report the deceptive ads.
  • Consumers can also report the ad to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by calling 877-FTC-Help.
  • You can also report fake ads to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Check BBB Scam Tracker to research and report scams.