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The biggest scams we would like to leave behind this year

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Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian

Often targeting women, these scams have reached trend status this year as it continues to use age old fear tactics to sell products. Health, love and fitness are important to many people, so we’re over these scams that gained even more prominence this year.

Detox/weight loss teas

We see it all over our Instagram feeds and it might seem convincing, especially when endorsed by our favourite celebs and influencers. But weight loss or detox teas are said to be very dangerous.

READ MORE: "My body is the best it's ever looked!" - this is how Unathi Nkayi stays in such great shape at (almost) 40!

Registered dietician, Alyssa Ardolino, tells Health24 that while the teas may result in temporary weight loss (loss of water weight) they can have side effects such as diarrhoea, stomach pains and dehydration. She says: “You already have a liver and a set of kidneys that remove toxins from your body.”

The ingredient often raised with the popular ‘detox’ teas is senna, known for its laxative function. When consuming these teas for a long period, "your bowels can lose tone and you can become reliant on taking these laxative herbs for a bowel movement," says naturopath, Lisa Guy, in this Huffington Post article.

Vagina ‘cleaning’ products

This is one of the pervasive myths that just refuse to go away despite its grave dangers being reported on. Products like douches, baby powder, vaginal steaming, and many more, continue to be recommended to women to keep their vaginas ‘clean’ and ‘fresh’.

READ MORE: What NOT to do when you have thrush

The Guardian reports that the success of these ‘feminine hygiene’ products is in its marketing. “For every mention of “fresh”, look for the fear at which it is aiming: fear that we smell of period blood or are leaking; fear that we smell in general; fear that our sexual partners will mock or reject us because of what our vaginas and vulvas look or smell like,” writes Rose George for The Guardian.

READ MORE: More than 52% of women in the workplace would rather ask their boss for a salary increase than admit they are on their period

In one her famous Twitter threads, Dr Sindi says vaginas are self-cleaning, self-regulating and only need water to keep it clean. THREAD:

Dating site scams

Creepy men have come out in numbers on dating sites weaseling and scheming into, primarily, women’s purses, safety and sometimes taking lives. 

READ MORE: Women are using Date Scam Alert to expose men who use Tinder to trick and assault women

In the search for intimacy or companionship online, things change when you are promised expensive jewelry and designer shoes as gifts, and next thing you know you are R8300 out like this Tinder user.

Luckily people have been vocal about their online dating experiences so now we have a heads up. 

Have you had any experiences with these or any other scams? Chat to us here.

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