A secret epidemic is making its way through the Internet - fraudulent online pharmacies. These pseudo-pharmacies lure you with over-the-counter medications, painkillers and sleeping pills, and at first glance seem like a medical treasure. But be careful! Behind the facade lurks a fraud that can have devastating consequences for your health and your bank account. We uncover the fraudulent practices of these fake mail-order pharmacies and show you how you can protect yourself.
Dangerous products from fraudulent online pharmacies: What you need to know
An attractive offer can quickly become a dangerous trap. So before you click “Buy Now,” you should know what’s at stake.
- Delivery: From non-receipt to confiscation : A common problem is that the ordered goods simply never arrive. Your payment is gone and you're left empty-handed. In other cases, your order will be confiscated by customs because the import of medicines is strictly regulated.
- Health risks : The Federal Office for Safety in Health Care (BASG) warns urgently about the health risks that medications from fraudulent online pharmacies can pose:
- Poor storage and transport conditions can contaminate the medication.
- Often the medication contains little or no of the promised active ingredient.
- Overdose is a serious risk.
- Use of unauthorized ingredients that may cause health problems.
The fake mail order pharmacies and their tricks
The fraudulent online pharmacies often use similar methods. However, a conscious eye can spot a number of warning signs.
- No Prescription Necessary : An immediate red flag should be when prescription medications are offered without a prescription. Sometimes they even promise to fill the prescription online, but this turns out to be untrue during the ordering process.
- Missing imprint : As with other fake online shops, a complete imprint is often missing.
- Emphasis on Generics : Many fraudulent sites emphasize the sale of generics and provide long explanations. Generics are legal in themselves, but the excessive emphasis can be a red flag.
- Unusual payment methods : In addition to credit card payments, they often also offer payments with Bitcoin and Ethereum. An additional discount is provided for payments using these cryptocurrencies.
- Spelling and grammatical errors : Many of these fraudulent sites contain many spelling and grammatical errors. A mix of different languages is also a warning sign.
- Tempting promises : Keywords such as “free shipping”, “safe and reliable”, “safe and discreet” or “free bonus pills” are intended to lure customers.
A list of fraudulent online shops, including pharmacies, can be found HERE .
The Ministry of Finance also reports similar problems in the 2022 product piracy report . In 2022 alone, 11,691 shipments containing a total of 832,267 counterfeit or other illegal medications were confiscated. This is a new “top record”.
Safety first: Only buy from registered online pharmacies
The safest way to avoid falling for fraudulent online pharmacies is to buy from registered mail order pharmacies. There is a list of registered mail order pharmacies . Before purchasing, check that the website you want to order from is on the list. Also look out for the EU security logo on the website. It should be clickable and lead to the National Medicines Agency.
Conclusion: Online pharmacies can be a blessing if they operate safely and legally. Unfortunately, there are many fraudulent actors who take advantage of unsuspecting customers. Therefore, be vigilant and do your research before buying any medicines online. Your health and your wallet will thank you!
Source:
Watchlist Internet
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )