"The Unchanging Structure of Scams Over 250 Years: From Snake Oil to Social Media Supplements - The 'Miraculous Shortcut' That Continues to Captivate America"

"The Unchanging Structure of Scams Over 250 Years: From Snake Oil to Social Media Supplements - The 'Miraculous Shortcut' That Continues to Captivate America"

What America Has Been Buying for 250 Years

America has long been called the "land of opportunity." A place where one's birth or class doesn't bind them, and where taking on challenges can change one's life. This narrative has attracted immigrants, spurred entrepreneurship, and fueled the growth of one of the world's largest economies.

However, the belief in "making the impossible possible" has a flip side. If effort and innovation can overturn yesterday's norms, then companies extracting gold from seawater, pills that rejuvenate just by drinking, and investments that multiply capital several times over in a short period cannot be entirely dismissed. In a society with many success stories, products masquerading as miracles also give rise to "what if" scenarios.

An article reported by the Associated Press, in line with the 250th anniversary of the United States, connects this light and shadow from past peculiar products to the modern wellness industry. The theme is not merely "the gullibility of Americans." It concerns when and how human hope is monetized.


Gold from Seawater, Snake Oil, and Radioactive Drinks

In 1897, a company in Lubec, Maine, gathered investors by claiming it could extract gold from seawater. Although the sea contains trace amounts of gold, it wasn't a feasible method for profitable recovery. Yet, the story combining "scientific discovery" and "untapped wealth" stimulated people's expectations.

In the early 20th century, Clark Stanley peddled "Snake Oil Liniment," claiming it cured an astonishing number of ailments such as rheumatism, neuralgia, sprains, bunions, and paralysis. However, when authorities investigated in 1916, the main ingredient was found to be mineral oil mixed with fat, likely from beef, and chili peppers. This is why "snake oil" remains synonymous with dubious panaceas and exaggerated advertising.

In the 1920s, "Radithor," containing radioactive substances, was sold as a tonic to restore vitality and sexual function. At the time, radiation was beginning to show actual results as a new medical technology. This made the leap to "radiation has special powers" more readily accepted. An enthusiastic user died from radiation poisoning, leading to widespread awareness of its dangers.

These were not outright lies born from nothing. There were instances where snake fat was expected to have anti-inflammatory effects, radiation was used medically, and trace elements were found in seawater—small seeds of truth were grafted onto unproven grand conclusions.


Why "Lack of Intelligence" Doesn't Explain It

It's easy to dismiss those who fall for dubious products as lacking knowledge or judgment. However, this doesn't explain why the same phenomenon repeats itself.

Lydia Kang, an internist researching medical history, points out that underlying this is the wish "not to die." People want to live longer, avoid pain and disability, and think for themselves until the end. When they feel there is no treatment, insufficient explanation from hospitals, or costs are too high, sellers who assert definitive answers appear attractive.

Neuroscientist Tali Sharot's explanation is also important. Human beliefs do not exist solely to accurately reflect the world. They also function to avoid danger, gain rewards, belong to groups, and maintain emotions. Even if beliefs are not accurate, if they provide companions who share them, expectations for the future, and a sense of acting on one's own, psychological "profits" arise.

Many lottery buyers know the odds of winning are low. Yet, from the moment they hold the ticket until the draw, they can imagine a prosperous future. Health products are similar. Not just the result of "it works," but the time spent waiting for "it might work" is being sold.


"Seems to Work a Little" Turns into "Cure-All"

Pseudoscience most easily infiltrates areas that are neither completely black nor white.

There was a change in cell experiments. The lifespan of mice was extended. A small observational study found a correlation. A celebrity spoke about improved health. Such information can be a starting point for research but does not prove effects or safety in humans. However, in advertisements, "possibilities are being researched" is replaced with "it works," and "used under specific conditions" becomes "works for everyone."

Peptides, which have gained attention in recent years, are a typical example. There are important peptide drugs that have been approved after clinical trials, like insulin and some obesity treatments. Their success casts a light of trust on the entire range of unapproved products claiming muscle enhancement, recovery promotion, fat reduction, and rejuvenation. However, even if they use the same word "peptide," quality, dosage, administration method, efficacy, and safety are separate issues.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not approve the effectiveness and safety of supplements one by one before they are marketed, as it does with drugs. In a structure where authorities respond after problems are identified, attractive product descriptions can spread before verification. From the consumer's perspective, the mere presence on shelves or online stores can easily appear as an official endorsement.


Social Media Delivers "Old Sales Pitches" to Individuals

Old-time panacea sellers gathered crowds in squares and spoke loudly about their efficacy. Modern sellers appear on smartphone screens, speaking from bedrooms or kitchens about "my case."

 

"Doctors didn't understand," "Trying this changed my life," "Big companies don't want you to know." Such narratives are more specific than numbers in papers, with faces and emotions. If the viewer shares similar age, concerns, and lifestyle, it feels more like advice from a friend than an advertisement. Furthermore, algorithms continuously show similar posts to those who show slight interest. Repetition doesn't change truth, but it makes familiar claims appear as "common knowledge known by many."

The revenue structure is also less visible. If the poster profits from product provision, referral fees, or contracts with sales companies, and this isn't prominent, the line between personal impressions and sales activities blurs. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission requires influencers to clearly and conspicuously disclose significant relationships with companies because this boundary affects purchasing decisions.


Three Reactions Seen on Social Media

As this article is newly published, there are not yet enough comments on the article itself to search and confirm. However, looking at related posts on unapproved peptides, raw milk, rejuvenation methods, and IV therapy mentioned in the article, reactions can be broadly divided into three.

The first is a reaction that values personal experiences of "it worked for me." Individual stories of changes in weight, sleep, pain, and vitality are supported more than numbers or comparative tests. While there's no need to deny personal experiences, it's challenging to separate natural recovery, lifestyle changes, effects of expectations, and overlaps with other treatments.

The second reaction is "regulations and big companies can't be trusted." Some posts perceive warnings about unapproved products as competition exclusion by existing industries rather than consumer protection. Dissatisfaction with medical costs and past corporate scandals intensify this suspicion. The danger lies in mistrust of the system automatically converting into trust in products with weak evidence.

The third reaction is a cautious one, "it's the same as the old snake oil." Medical professionals and science commentators urge distinguishing between approved medicines and unapproved products borrowing the same sound. However, if those warning mock users, the discussion shifts from evidence to group conflicts, potentially deepening suspicion.

What is truly being questioned on social media is not a simple structure of science versus ignorance. Individual experiences, distrust of systems, specialized knowledge, and commercial interests compete on the same screen.


The Damage Amount Indicates an "Industry That Continues Even Now"

The issue is not limited to health scams. According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the reported fraud damage amount in 2024 exceeded $12.5 billion, a 25% increase from the previous year. Reported damages from investment fraud reached $5.7 billion, and impersonation scams amounted to $2.95 billion.

Of course, not all of these statistics are due to "miracle cures" or social media advertising. Nevertheless, they indicate a sophisticated market that turns hope, anxiety, and urgency into money. While past fraudsters moved from town to town, now a single video can be broadcast worldwide, and AI can mass-produce characters, voices, and seemingly expert explanations.


It's Not Just Someone Else's Problem for Japan

It's dangerous to end with a laugh at the headline "Americans are gullible." In Japan, too, advertisements like "just drink," "just apply," "this one thing," and "even experts were surprised" abound. Situations where social media influencers feel closer than family or friends, and dissatisfaction with not being heard enough at medical institutions, are also common.

In fact, in Japan, rather than blatant exaggerations, expressions like "attention in research," "collaboration with universities," "trending overseas," and "personal impressions" sometimes create a sense of trust. Even if assertions are avoided, if images, testimonials, and authority are presented in succession, a strong causal relationship is completed in the recipient's mind.


Separating Hope from Evidence Without Losing Hope

To avoid being deceived, one doesn't need to become pessimistic. New treatments and technologies do emerge. Because airplanes, vaccines, and smartphones, once deemed impossible, became realities, expecting the next breakthrough is meaningful.

However, there needs to be a brief pause between expectation and purchase. The points to confirm are as follows:

  • Is the claim supported by personal anecdotes or appropriate comparative trials involving humans?

  • Has "related" or "possible" been rephrased as "effective"?

  • Are not only the effects but also the limitations, side effects, and people for whom it is not suitable explained?

  • Is the sender in a position to profit from sales, referral fees, or investments?

  • Does "right now," "just for you," or "experts are hiding it" deprive you of time to consider?

  • Can you once confirm with a doctor, pharmacist, or consumer consultation office that has no interest in the product?

The most important thing is not to laugh at those who have been victimized. Shame delays consultation and reporting, aiding the sellers. Those who think "I'm the only one who's okay" are less likely to notice stories that exploit their anxieties and desires.

What hasn't changed in 250 years is not because people were foolish. It's because the desire to be healthy, to become wealthy, and to believe in the future hasn't changed. Before selling products, fraudsters sell the place to put those desires. Therefore, what is needed is not the denial of hope but the ability to see through the mechanisms that disguise hope as evidence.


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