By NHINWatch.com Investigations Desk | Reviewed August 13, 2026
NHIN Watch is an independent reporting site. We are not a clinic, regulator, law firm, police agency, or emergency service. Our work is clear, fact-led, and focused on safer choices.
Our Investigation Workflow
We use a written ten-step method to check an online health offer. We grade each source by strength. We publish what we find and update it when key facts change.
The Ten-Step Method
Step 1: Capture the Ad or Offer
We save the ad, landing page, or sales message as readers saw it. We record the URL, headline, image, claim, date, time, and platform.
Step 2: Trace the Redirect Chain
We follow each link and record the domains in its path. A redirect can serve a normal purpose, so it proves nothing alone. Hidden or changing paths may still make the seller harder to identify.
Step 3: Identify the Domain and Registrant
We inspect public domain data, host clues, contact pages, and saved copies. Privacy tools often hide the owner. A private record is not proof of wrongdoing. We note only links the facts can support.
Step 4: Verify Any Endorsements or Credentials
If an ad claims an endorsement, we check the named person’s known site, accounts, and public words. We may seek comment through a contact route we verified. Silence is not proof.
Step 5: Identify the Seller
We try to identify the seller and the party that takes payment. We check terms, contact pages, business records, and court files when relevant. Missing or mixed details are recorded as unknowns.
Step 6: Inspect the Product Label and Checkout
We inspect the listed contents, use steps, claims, price, shipping cost, refund terms, and payment details. We note sales pressure and any repeat-billing terms. We do not assume a checkout fact that we cannot see.
Step 7: Classify the Health Claims
We list the key health claims and quote them with care. We separate disease claims from broad wellness claims. We also record warnings and disclaimers without assuming they cure a false claim.
Step 8: Corroborate Against Official Sources
We check whether the product, ingredient, or claim appears in FDA consumer health-fraud guidance, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health resources, or published research. We note what is known and what is not. We do not assume a product is unsafe simply because it is unfamiliar.
Step 9: Document Uncertainty
We clearly state what we know, what we do not know, and what remains unclear. We use language like “appears to,” “may indicate,” and “we could not verify” when facts are incomplete. We never call an unverified person or company criminal or fraudulent.
Step 10: Publish and Update
We publish our findings with full documentation of our method and sources. We update the page if new evidence emerges. We note the review date and any changes we have made.
How We Grade Evidence
Strong: A verified agency action, court file, signed company record, or clear statement from a known source.
Moderate: Several independent records, clear business data, or a repeat pattern supported by saved pages.
Weak: One report, one saved page, or a claim we could not check another way.
Unverified: A claim or charge that we could not confirm.
What We Do Not Do
We do not invent purchases, tests, victim stories, credentials, or first-person accounts. A subject cannot pay to change a finding. A product link, if used for evidence or commerce, does not prove that the product is safe or effective.
For a possible adverse event, review FDA MedWatch. Personal medical advice belongs with a licensed clinician who knows your case.
How to Use Our Reporting
Our investigations are meant to help you make informed decisions before you buy. If you have already been harmed by a health scam, see what to do after an online health scam. If you want to check a claim yourself, we have a guide to verify an online health claim before you buy.
If you find a health scam, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission, the Internet Crime Complaint Center, or the FDA. These agencies use reports to identify patterns and take action.
Our Standards
We follow strict editorial standards. We correct errors promptly and note all corrections publicly. For details, see our editorial standards and corrections policy.
Last reviewed: August 13, 2026. This page is updated as our methods evolve or when we receive corrections.