Weight loss jab warning: fraudsters' fake products could cause real harm'

"The problem is cost. But it seems there are other options rather than getting a prescription from a doctor and going to the pharmacy. A text message arrives giving a link to a site with much cheaper medication and with no need to go through official channels. And you saw a similar ad on social media the other day, so you decide to go for it."

"The problem is these ads are almost certainly scams. In the best-case scenario, you will be sent nothing and lose whatever money you paid. In the worst, you receive a fake version, with unknown ingredients that could lead to severe health problems. The popularity of legitimate weight loss medications has led to a rise in fake goods hitting the market and scams set up to simply take people's money."

"The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned against buying these illegal weight loss medicines without a prescription from beauty salons, fake pharmacy websites or via social media, saying they could contain toxins and other ingredients that could cause real harm. New figures from the high street bank Santander show a sharp rise in the number of customers who have been affected by the fraud."

People seeking cheaper weight-loss injections are targeted by scams offering no-prescription products via text links and social media ads. Scammers may take payment and send nothing or supply counterfeit medicines with unknown, potentially toxic ingredients that can cause severe health problems. The MHRA warns against buying illegal weight-loss medicines from beauty salons, fake pharmacy websites or social platforms without a prescription. Santander data shows a sharp rise in fraud involving injections, pens, tablets and fat-dissolving products, with the average scam costing victims £120 and losses between July and September more than double the prior quarter. Scams typically use mimicked brand accounts with subtle differences.

Read at www.theguardian.com