Beware the Snake Oil Salesmen!

I belong to several support groups on Facebook, designed to offer comfort and companionship to those of us suffering from various chronic pain issues.  Because of our conditions, many of us have become virtual shut-ins.  The pain makes it almost impossible for many to leave their homes, and we have lost so many friends in the "real" world.  Our friends in the virtual world provide us with the friendship and support that we so desperately need.  It is within these groups that we are able to share our joys and sorrows.  We are able to talk about the parts of our pain that we don't feel comfortable sharing with others.

Unfortunately, a menace is creeping into these safe havens.  I am talking about the old-fashioned snake oil salesman.  According to The Free Dictionary (online), a snake oil salesman is defined as the following: snake oil

n.

1. A worthless preparation fraudulently peddled as a cure for many ills.

2. Speech or writing intended to deceive; humbug.

These people pose as pain sufferers in order to join our groups.  Once they have established themselves, they start hawking their wares.  Many attempt to sell all natural cures for our ills.  Others are much more blatant and actually attempt to sell us illegal drugs.  Others offer loans, knowing that the chronically ill often suffer from financial woes as well.  This is just unconscionable!

 

The majority of these groups clearly state that advertising is not allowed.  We have too many other problems to have someone plying us with offers of miracle cures.  The majority of us are too savvy to be tempted by these hucksters.  Unfortunately, we all know what it is like to feel so desperate for some type of relief.  While the majority of us would never take advantage of these "offers", there is that small niggle of hope that creeps in, making us think, "What if this one might work?".  I worry about that one person who is so desperate for relief that they get taken advantage of.

 

To those of you suffering from chronic illnesses, please do not fall for these promises of miracle cures.  I promise you, if they worked, you wouldn't be hearing about them in small, online support groups.  You would be hearing about them everywhere, and believe me, the big drug companies would have already appropriated them in order to make even more money than they already do!  Even more dangerous are those trying to sell illegal drugs.  As difficult as it is to get doctor's to prescribe medication at this time, this is an incredibly dangerous thing to involve yourself with. 

 

To those of you preying on the chronically ill, shame on you!  I firmly believe that there is a special place in hell for people like you.  Have you no shame?  Were you raised to be a con artist?  I wouldn't think so, but apparently, there is something in your nature that makes you think it is alright to take advantage of the weakest among us.  And while I seriously doubt that you will read this, I want you to know that we aren't falling for your con!  We see through you!  And we will continue to report you to those who manage the groups we belong to.