Is the weight loss drug you bought online safe? This question lies at the heart of a concerning trend uncovered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®). In their latest report, titled Injectable Weight Loss Drugs: How Illegal Online Drug Sellers Are Taking Advantage of Patients, NABP sheds light on the dangers posed by counterfeit weight loss medications sold by unscrupulous online vendors.
Many people aim to lose weight, and the promise of quick results from certain medications can be very tempting. However, drugs like Semaglutide, Liraglutide, and Tirzepatide, which are glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 agonists) and are usually prescribed for diabetes and obesity, come with risks. These risks are especially high if you buy them from unregulated online sources.
Obesity is a common problem around the world and more so in the US where over 74% are classified as overweight and 39% are classified as obese. This has opened a rat race with millions looking for ways to cut their weight, some using whatever means necessary. With popular figures such as Elon Musk and Tracy Morgan previously admitting to using Semaglutide to lose weight, it becomes obvious why the drugs are popular.
The use of these drugs has been so popular that it forced weight-loss chain Jenny Craig to file for bankruptcy while Walmart has noticed a reduction in food purchases. Others such as WeightWatchers had to adapt by acquiring a telehealth platform that provides GLP-1 agonists.
Since these medications are in high demand, the prices have soared and the fact that they are often not covered by insurance makes them even more attractive targets for illegal sellers.
So, how do bad actors take advantage of the situation? Here are a few ways;
Criminals are skirting the law by selling these drugs without asking for a prescription or having the proper pharmacy licenses. Mostly done through online shopping, this illegal purchasing of drugs comes with major risks. In most countries, like the US, selling drugs without a prescription is illegal.
Illegal online pharmacy offering Saxenda, a GLP-1 agonist, without requiring a prescription
Scammers have perfected the art of impersonating legit businesses. Some bad actors dupe consumers by replicating legitimate sellers' websites, branding, or packaging, making it difficult for buyers to know which one is legit or a replica.
For instance, take a look at the pictures below and determine which is the legitimate website.
Manufacturer’s website
If you are not too careful, you cannot tell the difference between the two websites as the second is mimicking the manufacturers’ website including the pictures, design, color scheme, and much more.
To evade detection, sellers advertise drugs as "peptides" for "research purposes only," sidestepping regulations on human consumption. It’s prudent to only buy drugs that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any other recognized authorities for your safety.
So, how can the Scam fighting community help end this menace?
With more than half of the world population expected to be overweight by 2035, scammers will always have a target market for illegal weight loss drugs. In light of this, there is a need for the scam-fighting community to up the fight against illegal sellers. Here are a few ways this can be done;
Governments and law enforcement need to step up and create stronger laws and regulations for selling prescription drugs online. This means tougher penalties for those caught selling illegally and better monitoring of online marketplaces to catch these activities early.
Additionally, international cooperation is crucial; by working together, law enforcement agencies across borders can share information and conduct joint operations to track down and dismantle these illegal drug networks. This collaboration can lead to more effective enforcement and a significant reduction in the availability of counterfeit medications online.
Ever wondered who ensures the safety and authenticity of medicines sold online? Brand protection agencies are shaping the future by leading the fight against counterfeit weight loss drugs in the digital age. They need to utilize cutting-edge monitoring technologies across websites and social media platforms to swiftly identify and remove fake products, thereby safeguarding consumers from potentially harmful substances.
Of course, this isn’t a one-person do-it-all task, which is why users and other stakeholders need to do more in reporting counterfeits. To protect themselves, patients are urged to utilize resources like NABP's Safe Pharmacy website, which offers tools such as the Safe Site Search Tool to verify the legitimacy of online pharmacies.
Social media platforms, internet service providers, and cybersecurity companies are pivotal in the fight against counterfeit weight loss drugs online. After all, most of the online sales of illegal drugs happen on their platforms. These entities must proactively remove illegal content by implementing and enforcing policies that swiftly take down posts, pages, and advertisements promoting the sale of illegal medications.
For instance, Meta recently highlighted its commitment to combatting scams, discussing initiatives during the Global Anti Scam Summit Europe 2024 to enhance platform security and protect users from fraudulent activities.
Governments and online platforms worldwide are cracking down on these illegal sellers to keep people safe. NABP supports these efforts to protect public health. It will take the combined efforts of government agencies, domain registrars, and all stakeholders to weed out illegal drug-selling websites.
It's easy to fall for the promise of quick weight loss, but buying meds online can be risky. NABP's report is a wake-up call, reminding us to be careful where we buy our meds. They may have flashy websites, or mimic legitimate websites, but in the end, they either fail to deliver or sell drugs illegally. Weight loss is a long journey that can be taxing both emotionally and financially, but doing it right will save you much going forward.
The report by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) is a wake-up to all governments and other stakeholders to strike hard on illegal drug sellers to prevent pertinent health issues.
Read more about illegal online sellers of GLP-1 agonists in the RogueRx Activity Report.
By staying informed and working together, we can fight against illegal online drug sales and keep everyone safe.
Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!
As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam. Common Sense: Too Good To Be True When looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact. If an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website. Check Out the Social Media Links Social media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu
So the worst has come to pass - you realise you parted with your money too fast, and the site you used was a scam - what now? Well first of all, don’t despair!! If you think you have been scammed, the first port of call when having an issue is to simply ask for a refund. This is the first and easiest step to determine whether you are dealing with a genuine company or scammers. Sadly, getting your money back from a scammer is not as simple as just asking. If you are indeed dealing with scammers, the procedure (and chance) of getting your money back varies depending on the payment method you used. PayPal Debit card/Credit card Bank transfer Wire transfer Google Pay Bitcoin PayPal If you used PayPal, you have a strong chance of getting your money back if you were scammed. On their website, you can file a dispute within 180 calendar days of your purchase. Conditions to file a dispute: The simplest situation is that you ordered from an online store and it has not arrived. In this case this is what PayPal states: "If your order never shows up and the seller can't provide proof of shipment or delivery, you'll get a full refund. It's that simple." The scammer has sent you a completely different item. For example, you ordered a PlayStation 4, but instead received only a Playstation controller. The condition of the item was misrepresented on the product page. This could be the