America has always believed anything is possible.

This hope helped build the biggest economy in the world.

It also made Americans easy targets for bad people.

In 1897, a church leader said his company could get gold from sea water.

The place was near Lubec, Maine.

In 1925, a company sold Radithor.

It said Radithor could help men with sex problems.

It said Radithor could give people energy.

But there was no gold in the sea water.

And Radithor hurt people with radiation.

Americans also had Clark Stanley.

He sold fake "snake oil."

And Charles Ponzi had a fake money plan.

Experts say people believe these claims for a simple reason.

Dr. Lydia Kang wrote a book about health fads.

She said people do not want to die.

She said everyone wants a long life.

They want no sickness and no pain.

Other experts say people believe strange claims for social reasons.

They also believe for reasons from long ago.

Kang said these feelings are stronger in America.

America has hope and freedom.

It has light rules for business.

It has big dreams.

Tali Sharot is a brain professor.

She said beliefs are not always about truth.

They can give good things.

They can give friends or hope.

Kang said companies use this hope.

They put it in a bottle.

Then they sell it for any price people can pay.