Looking for Treatment? The FTC Released Tips to Protect Yourself Online

For people seeking help with addiction, access to accurate information can be life-saving. Misleading ads risk delaying care and exploiting families at their most vulnerable moments. 

When searching for treatment (or anything else) online, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises:

• Recognize ads. The first two or three search results are often paid or “sponsored” listings. These may not lead to the organization you intended to find.

• Verify contact information. Don’t assume the phone number in a search result belongs to a legitimate treatment center. Scroll further to the unpaid search results to confirm.

• Go directly to the source. When possible, type the organization’s web address directly into your browser to ensure you’re reaching the right site.

• Cross-check with trusted sources. Use government directories, professional associations, or well-known nonprofits to confirm a treatment provider’s legitimacy.

The FTC released these tips after announcing a settlement with Evoke Wellness, alleging the company misled people seeking addiction treatment through deceptive Google search ads.

According to the FTC, Evoke ran ads that impersonated legitimate treatment centers. When people clicked the ads and called the phone number provided, they were allegedly connected to Evoke’s call center, where staff pretended to represent the treatment center that had been searched for and then attempted to redirect individuals to Evoke facilities.

If you encounter suspicious activity or misleading ads, report them to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.