Looking for a substance use disorder clinic? Scroll past paid ads
Dishonest businesses buy paid search ads that mimic legitimate substance use disorder clinics to trick people into contacting the wrong provider.
How it works
When you search online for a specific clinic by name, paid ads appear at the top of results. Scammers buy ads with names or descriptions similar to real clinics. You click what looks like the right clinic but actually contact the scammer instead. They then collect your personal information or money.
Red flags to watch for
- Paid ad appears before the clinic's official website in search results
- Clinic name is spelled slightly differently or uses similar wording
- Phone number or website URL doesn't match the real clinic's official contact info
- You reached a different clinic than the one you searched for by name
- Caller or website asks for payment upfront before evaluation
What to do
Before you call or visit, verify the clinic independently. Go directly to the clinic's official website by typing the URL yourself, not by clicking a search ad. Call the clinic using the phone number from their official website or a local directory. If you are unsure whether you reached the right place, hang up and call back using a number you find yourself.
If this reached you
Source: FTC . Scam Sentinel summarizes official guidance in plain language; it is a decision aid, not a guarantee.