There are times you just want to head to the self service check-outs to avoid looking anyone in the eye; buying certain products and medications can be embarrassing or make you feel vulnerable.
Scammers know this, and they’re cashing in on our desire to discreetly get pills for sensitive conditions by creating a vast number of unscrupulous, fake websites, where you’re at risk of losing your cash – or worse.
An investigation by cybersecurity software Avast found a vast network of over 5,000 fraudulent online pharmacies, claiming to sell legitimate medications without the need for prescriptions or an in person consultation.
You might receive something in the post after paying, but it probably won’t be what you thought you were buying. It could even be toxic, with mislabelled substances like pesticides or animal tranquillizers potentially arriving instead.
Think twice before buying these medicines online
There are certain medications more likely to be used as bait by scammers, which tend to be things people are embarrassed to buy, are expensive, hard to find or access, or that they want to get hold of quickly.
Avast said that customers looking for these types of drugs are particularly vulnerable to fraud:
- Erectile dysfunction treatments such as Viagra
- Hormone therapy
- Sexual health treatments
- Essential antibiotics such as Amoxicillin
- ‘Trendy and costly’ drugs people want for weight loss, including Rybelsus and Ozempic
- Fertility drugs including Clomid
- Antivirals falsely marketed during flu seasons and global health crises
In a threat report, Avast warned that meds bought at fake pharmacies ‘bypass every safeguard’ built into legitimate businesses.
The medicines sold on these platforms might contain no active ingredientsat all, or may have dangerously high amounts.
They could be real medicines, but out of date stock which has been repackaged.
In the worst cases, they have even killed: in 2024, at least nine people died in the US after taking fentanyl-laced painkillers bought online.
A ‘shadowy empire’
A single, highly organised cybercriminal group was found to be running thousands of online pharmacies which appeared to be independent.
Avast, which is part of the wider Gen company, revealed their findings in their latest Threat Report, saying this could be ‘one of the largest online drug scams ever uncovered’.
They said they had already thwarted more than a million attacks from these sites targeting its customers globally.
In the UK alone, Avast has blocked tens of thousands of attacks related to these scam sites so far this year.
The sites make their money by selling substandard product, as well as by collecting the data of customers, exposing them to identity theft as well as further financial fraud.
Warning signs a pharmacy website is a scam
Online shoppers are advised to watch out for these red flags when buying medication online:
- Demands for crypto or bank transfers
- No prescription required
- ‘Too good to be true’ prices
- No contact details or physical address
- Unclickable trust logos or fake reviews
- Pressure tactics: ‘Limited time offer!’
The scammers mimic real businesses, so the websites may appear convincing. They use tactics such as:
- Hijacking legitimate health websites
- Manipulating search engines to push their sites to the top
- Using AI to generate ‘health blogs’, fake 5-star reviews and customer support
- Creating polished, professional-looking websites, complete with customer chat and glossy product pages
Ultimately, you’re better off going to your doctor and getting a prescription to be sure – even if it’s embarrassing.
Laura Wilson, Director at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, warned: ‘Websites that offer prescription only medicines without a prescription are acting illegally.
‘Only use online pharmacies that are registered with the pharmacy regulator, The General Pharmaceutical Council.
‘Always check an online pharmacy has a verified UK address, contact number and the official registered pharmacy logo which links to the regulator’s website.’
Siggi Stefnisson, Cyber Safety CTO at Gen, said: ‘PharmaFraud is a perfect example of how cybercriminals think – they want to prey on people who are vulnerable or feeling desperate, and people looking for medications online are exactly that.
‘From AI-powered ransomware to fake online pharmacies, the risks are real and harder to spot. That’s why awareness and vigilance are critical.’
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