Ozempic Scams Are on the Rise—Experts Reveal How to Spot and Avoid Fake Products
Read MoreWoman’s World
Weight loss drugs are incredibly sought-after, but they’re also often difficult to obtain due to limited insurance coverage and high out-of-pocket costs. Unfortunately, scammers have taken note of the high demand for GLP-1 medications, leading to a significant increase in Ozempic scams. Here, a security expert shares how you can protect your finances and health by spotting and avoiding these scams.
Ozempic scams are on the rise
Global online protection authority McAfee recently reported a rise in scams centered on brand names Ozempic, Wegovy and semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in both drugs. From January through the end of August 2024, the company identified 1,502 questionable website addresses and over 300,000 phishing attempts (to steal personal information).
The rise in risky Ozempic URLs has increased by more than 400 percent between January and August 2024, the company’s Threat Research Team said. More than 10,000 consumers were scammed nationwide, resulting in a total loss of around $6 million within the first five months of 2024 alone.
The threat extends to social media as well. On Facebook, Craigslist and other marketplaces, scammers pose as health care professionals like doctors based outside of the United States offering Ozempic and other drugs without a prescription.
They also claim to accept payment through Bitcoin, Zelle, Venmo and Cash App, offer discounts if targets pay using cryptocurrency and prices far below the $1,000 per dose most people pay outside of insurance coverage.
What happens to people who fall for Ozempic scams?
In most cases, the worst implications of these scams is that the swindlers take your money without delivering any product. They often manage to steal personal and financial information, too. However, some events have even more dangerous repercussions.
McAfee cautions that instead of delivering an injection pen with the proper GLP-1 drug, some scammers send EpiPens containing allergy medication, insulin pens or pens loaded with a saline solution.
What to do if you accidentally inject yourself with something other than Ozempic
If you inject yourself with saline instead of Ozempic, there is fortunately a low risk for any adverse reactions, says Danielle Kelvas, MD, Primary Care Physician at The HCG Institute. However, if you’d previously been taking authentic Ozempic and you don’t realize that you missed a dose by accidentally taking saline for one week, and then the following week restart your normal Ozempic dose, you could experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, cautions Dr. Kelvas.
“If someone accidentally injects insulin instead of Ozempic, it depends on how much extra insulin this person injected versus what they are used to,” she explains. “If it’s a small dose, the person may be okay to just eat some food and watch their blood sugar.” That said, with fraudulent “Ozempic” it can be hard to tell how much you’ve actually taken, and you should consult your doctor immediately.
“If you don’t have a continuous glucose monitor, or some meter to check your blood sugar, then you need to eat something and go to the emergency room right away,” adds Dr. Kelvas. “Switching insulin for Ozempic can be really dangerous if you accidentally doubled your normal insulin dose.”
How to avoid Ozempic scams
So, how can you identify and stay safe from weight loss drug fraud?
Purchase Ozempic only from a trusted pharmacy
“As these products gain popularity, are harder to purchase and become scarce, scammers exploit the trend and we are seeing an increase in the number of fake websites, fake social media profiles and phishing attempts that consumers are having to tackle,” says Abhishek Karnik, McAfee’s, head of McAfee’s Threat Research Team. “When it comes to avoiding these types of drug scams, the safest decision is to purchase from a reputable medical provider or pharmacy that requires a prescription.”
If you’re considering an online pharmacy, take a look at this list from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of state-licensed online pharmacies. Don’t buy from anywhere that doesn’t have a listed phone number and physical address in the US, advises Karnik. Unauthorized buying and selling of prescription drugs is illegal.
Question attractive prices, watch payments and look out for salesy language
If an offer for weight loss drugs at a discounted price seems too good to be true, it probably is, says Karnik. Also, you should never use a digital wallet app, bitcoin, prepaid debit cards or wire funds to pay for your medication, he adds. Widely accepted forms of payment include PayPal, Apple Pay and credit cards.
You should also be wary of exaggerated promises or language advertising a miracle-working product. Similarly, positive testimonials for a specific website, seller or account do not guarantee legitimacy, as many scammers use fake reviews.
Check for inaccurate information
If it’s a real website, you should be able to cross-reference and verify details including product information, product batch numbers, manufacturer details or expiration dates to ensure what you’re purchasing is genuine.
