What this tool does: paste the text of any supplement ad, sales page, or social media post below. We scan it against 14 marketing patterns that regulators (FTC, FDA) and independent reviewers commonly flag as signs a claim is running ahead of the science, not as proof the product doesn’t work. This is a free heuristic checklist, not a legal or medical judgment. Nothing you paste is sent anywhere; the check runs entirely in your browser.
How the 14 red flags are chosen
Each pattern below reflects language patterns that FTC guidance on health claims and FDA’s own consumer warnings repeatedly call out as common in unproven or exaggerated supplement marketing. Matching a pattern doesn’t mean a product is fraudulent. Plenty of legitimate brands use enthusiastic marketing copy. It means that specific line is worth reading more skeptically and cross-checking against independent evidence before you buy.
| Disease cure/treat language | Phrases like “cures,” “reverses,” or “treats [disease]” for a dietary supplement. Supplements are legally barred from claiming to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. This is one of the clearest violations FDA and FTC pursue. |
| Unrealistic speed/results | Specific fast results (“lose 10kg in 2 weeks”) presented as typical. FTC has specifically flagged this pattern as an example of an unreliable claim. |
| Fake urgency/scarcity | Countdown timers, “only X left in stock”, “price goes up at midnight”, common conversion tactics that are frequently fabricated and reset on every visit. |
| Miracle/breakthrough language | “Miracle,” “breakthrough,” “secret the industry doesn’t want you to know”, framing that substitutes emotional appeal for evidence. |
| Vague “clinically proven” claim | “Clinically proven” or “doctor recommended” with no study, sample size, or citation named. |
| Undisclosed proprietary blend | An ingredient list that hides exact milligram doses behind a single “proprietary blend” total, which makes it impossible to know if doses match the research being cited. |
| Fake regulatory approval | “FDA approved” for a supplement. The FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they go to market; this claim is a factual misstatement by itself. |
| Celebrity/media misattribution | Unverified “as seen on Shark Tank / Dr. Oz / [network]” claims, a pattern behind numerous FTC enforcement actions against supplement marketers. |
| “Natural” implies “safe” | Equating “all natural” or “plant-based” with being risk-free, which does not follow. Many natural substances are potent or interact with medication. |
| One-size-fits-all guarantee | “Works for everyone” / “100% guaranteed results”. Individual response to any supplement varies; absolute guarantees of a biological outcome are inherently suspect. |
| Manufactured scientific jargon | Invented-sounding technical terms (“cellular reset,” “metabolic switch”) used without any citation, designed to sound authoritative. |
| Testimonials as primary evidence | Leading with “real customer” stories/before-after photos instead of study data. Testimonials are anecdotes, not evidence, and are often the only “proof” offered. |
| Conspiracy framing | “Big Pharma doesn’t want you to know this”, a rhetorical device used to discourage the reader from fact-checking rather than address the evidence. |
| Free/hidden subscription language | “Just pay shipping” or “free trial” bundled with automatic recurring billing terms, a pattern behind a large share of supplement-related consumer complaints. |
This tool is for educational purposes only. It does not diagnose fraud, verify legal compliance, or provide medical or legal advice. A high or low score is not a verdict on whether a product works or is safe. Always check ingredients, dosages, and independent reviews, and talk to a healthcare professional before starting any supplement.