Last updated: October 2026
The most common CBD scams in the UK are fake celebrity adverts for “miracle” CBD gummies, free trials that become expensive subscriptions, and products that contain far less CBD than the label says. To avoid them, buy from a UK brand on the FSA public list, ask for a batch lab report and ignore cure claims.
Below: the 6 scams to watch for, a 7-point checklist before you buy, how to check the FSA list, and what to do if you’ve been caught out.
6 common CBD scams
| Scam | How it works | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Fake celebrity endorsements | Doctored articles or videos claim a TV personality, often from Dragons’ Den, backs a CBD gummy | Celebrity “news story” on social media or a fake news site |
| Free trial subscription traps | You pay a few pounds for postage; small print signs you up to large monthly charges. Which? reported one victim charged £198 instead of £5 | “Just pay postage”, hard-to-find terms |
| Miracle cure claims | Products claim to cure anxiety, pain, diabetes or arthritis | Any claim to treat or cure a condition, which is illegal for CBD in the UK |
| Fake tracking | A tracking site shows your parcel “delayed in customs” while more money is taken | Overseas warehouse, vague courier name |
| Under-dosed products | The bottle contains much less CBD than the label, or none | No batch lab report, or a report that doesn’t match the batch |
| Hemp seed oil sold as CBD | Cheap hemp seed oil marketed with cannabis leaves and “hemp extract” wording | No CBD amount in mg; suspiciously cheap. See hemp oil vs CBD oil |
7-point checklist before you buy
- On the FSA public list? CBD food products sold in the UK must be linked to an application on it.
- Batch lab report available? It should show CBD content and THC level for your batch. See how to read a CBD lab report.
- CBD stated in mg per bottle and per serving, not just “1000mg hemp”.
- No medical claims. Legitimate brands don’t say CBD cures or treats anything.
- A real UK business: company name, address and contact details you can check on Companies House.
- Clear pricing and terms: no hidden subscription, easy cancellation.
- Genuine reviews: be wary of perfect scores and identical wording. Fake reviews are illegal in the UK.
For a full buyer’s guide, see how to choose a good CBD oil.
How to check the FSA public list
- Go to the FSA’s CBD products list.
- Search for the brand or product name.
- Check the product is there, and note its status.
Being on the list means the product is linked to a novel food application that’s progressing; it isn’t an FSA endorsement of quality. Our CBD products are on the list. See the FSA’s first CBD approvals explained and is CBD legal in the UK?
How common are mislabelled products?
| Study | What it found |
|---|---|
| UK testing, 2019 (30 CBD oils) | 11 contained less than half the CBD on the label, one contained none, and nearly half contained measurable THC |
| US study, 2017 (84 products bought online) | About 31% were accurately labelled; THC was found in about 1 in 5 |
| US study, 2022 (80 products) | 5 of 21 products labelled “THC-free” contained THC |
THC in a CBD product can make you feel high and can show on a drug test. See CBD and drug tests.
What to do if you’ve been scammed
- Call your bank straight away to stop further payments and ask about a chargeback.
- Cancel any recurring payment through your bank, not just the seller.
- Report it to Report Fraud (which replaced Action Fraud) online or on 0300 123 2040 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or Police Scotland on 101.
- Report the advert to the platform it appeared on and to the Advertising Standards Authority.
- Don’t take the product if you don’t know what’s in it.
How we do things
We’re a UK brand. Our CBD oils and capsules are broad spectrum, on the FSA public list, and batch tested by an independent ISO 17025 lab, with reports available on request from our lab testing page. We don’t use celebrity endorsements or free-trial offers, and our Subscribe and Save option is always optional. The FSA’s 10mg a day figure is precautionary advice rather than a legal limit, set while longer-term safety research continues. At Evopure we think it is a very cautious figure, and many adults use more. If you go above it, increase slowly, and check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
FAQs
Are CBD gummies adverts with celebrities real?
Almost never. Fake celebrity endorsements, often using Dragons’ Den stars, are a common CBD scam. Celebrities have publicly said they don’t endorse these products.
Is CBD a scam?
No, CBD itself is a real compound, but some products and sellers are scams. Check the FSA list, a lab report and the company before buying.
How do I know if CBD oil is real?
Ask for a batch lab report showing the CBD content and THC level, and check the product is on the FSA public list.
How do I get my money back from a CBD scam?
Contact your bank straight away to block payments and ask about a chargeback, then report it to Report Fraud.
Why is some CBD so cheap?
It may contain little CBD, be hemp seed oil, or skip testing and compliance. See our guide to why CBD oil costs what it does.
Sources
- Which? CBD oil scams: fraudulent celeb endorsements and fake shipping tracking.
- FSA. CBD products list.
- Bonn-Miller MO et al. Labeling accuracy of cannabidiol extracts sold online. JAMA, 2017.
- Johnson E et al. CBD product contamination: THC concentrations in commercially available CBD products. Drug Alcohol Depend, 2022.
- Centre for Medicinal Cannabis. Testing of UK CBD products, 2019.
- Which? Report Fraud: what the new fraud reporting service means.
