Fake Treatment Centers Hide in Paid Search Ads to Steer People Seeking Addiction Help
Scammers buy paid search ads using the names of real substance use disorder clinics. When you search for a clinic by name, the top result may display that clinic's name but link to an impersonator's website and phone number. When you call, telemarketers answer with generic greetings like "Admissions" and avoid direct questions about whether you reached the right place — trying to steer you into their own facility.
This works because it targets a moment of genuine need. Someone searching for addiction treatment is often stressed, rushed, and trusting — making them less likely to question whether they have reached the right number. The FTC has taken enforcement action, including a recent case against Evoke Wellness, LLC that advertised under multiple real clinic names.
What to look for
- Search results showing a clinic's name but linking to an unfamiliar website or phone number
- Telemarketers answering with generic greetings like "Admissions" instead of the clinic's actual name
- Avoidance of direct questions about whether you have reached the right treatment center
- Paid ads that look like organic search results for well-known clinics