Looking for a substance use disorder clinic? Scroll past paid ads

If you’re searching online for a substance use disorder clinic, the last thing you need is a scam. Unfortunately, some dishonest businesses have used paid search results to trick people into contacting their clinics instead of the ones people were searching for. Here’s how it happened in a recent FTC case:

You’re looking for help with a substance use disorder. So you search online using the name of a clinic in your town.

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In this example from FTC v. Evoke Wellness, LLC, the top search result looked like the clinic’s listing. You wouldn’t realize it’s a paid ad from an impersonator. 

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The ad shows the name of the clinic you searched for, but includes the impersonator’s website link and phone number. 

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You call the number, not knowing it belongs to the impersonator.

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The impersonator tries to get you to go to one of their treatment centers instead of the clinic you searched for.

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When people unknowingly reached Evoke Wellness instead of the clinic they were looking for, telemarketers continued the deception, often answering calls with generic greetings like “Admissions” or “Recovery helpline” and avoiding direct questions about whether the caller was in the right place.

So how can you avoid a treatment center search scam?

• Scroll past the paid search results to help make sure you have the right website or contact info.
• Type the treatment center’s website address (if you know it) directly into your browser to find the right phone number or email.

Spot a bad business practice? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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