Fraudsters' Fake Products 'May Lead to Serious Damage'

You have heard and read so much about people using weight loss injections to get slim, you feel it is time to give it a go ahead of the festive season. However, the issue lies in cost.

But it seems alternatives exist instead of obtaining a doctor's script and going to the pharmacy. A text message comes through giving a link to a site with much cheaper medication – and with no necessity to navigate proper procedures. And you saw a similar ad on social media recently, prompting you to go for it.

The problem is such promotions are highly likely to be fraudulent schemes. At best, you will be sent nothing and lose any funds you spent. In the worst, you receive a fake version, containing unspecified components which may result in serious medical issues.

The widespread use of authentic slimming drugs has led to a increase in counterfeit products entering circulation and scams set up to simply take consumers' cash.

Health authorities have warned against buying such unlawful weight loss medicines without a prescription from beauty salons, fake pharmacy websites or via digital platforms, stating they could contain “toxins and additional components that could cause genuine injury”.

New figures from a high street bank reveal a significant surge in the number of customers who have been affected by the scam. The bank says, the total sum lost to scams related to weight loss injections, pens, tablets and lipid-reducing solutions between July and September , was more than double the total sum lost in the previous three months. The average scam costs victims £120, it says.

“Scammers are deliberately targeting individuals' self-doubts and medical worries, with such frauds soaring in the past few months,” says a bank’s head of fraud.

What it looks like

Most occur on messaging apps and social networks. Across platforms, an account may mimic the company that you seek, but there will typically be subtle differences in text or brand marks.

These communications or updates will often use urgency-laden phrases such as “time-sensitive deal”, “exclusive deal” or “complimentary gift”.

With the cost of some legitimate slimming injections, has increased of late, the scammers will set the cost of their “product” more cheaply.

“Buying from unapproved vendors on the internet can come at a significant monetary, health-related and psychological toll,” warns the fraud expert.

What to do

Like any deceptive scheme, the wise saying holds true: if it appears too good to be true, then it probably is.

Health regulators have cautioned people to be highly vigilant when buying medicines via the web. These products must solely be acquired from a registered pharmacy with a valid script issued by a medical practitioner, they advise. When procured from other sources, they may pose serious risks to health.

Fraudsters can expend considerable effort to make their site or social media page appear completely genuine. Should they state to be an internet-based chemist based in the UK, it's possible to verify the online portal of the pharmaceutical regulatory body to ensure they are properly registered.