How to Spot Online Medication Scams

When you need a prescription or over-the-counter drug, you may not feel like going to the pharmacy and paying top dollar for your medications. Although ordering drugs online may seem convenient, you must watch out for online medication scams.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Beware of the phrase "No Prescription Required." Ordering a prescription drug over the Internet without a script from your physician is illegal. Look out for companies that promise to fill a prescription online without one.

2. Check the location of the online pharmacy. Many medication scams originate in foreign countries that don't regulate medications as tightly as the United States. Only order from U.S. based online pharmacies.

3. Consider promises that seem too good to be true. Look at the prices posted on the site for the medication. If they offer name brand medications for only a few dollars, then it's probably a scam.

4. Look for a list of legitimate online pharmacies. Search the database on the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to find an online pharmacy that you can safely use. If you don't see the pharmacy name on the list, the site's probably a scam.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to check the medication you receive after ordering online. You may want to use an online drug guide, like the one provided by the FDA, to make sure you're getting the right pills.
• Avoid ordering medications through email offers. Most of these spam emails are phishing scams perpetrated by online predators.

Resources

• National Association of Boards of Pharmacy lists safe sites
• Check your medications using the FDA website

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