Counterfeit prescription drugs are illegal and may be hazardous to your health.
They are fake medicine that is not produced to the pharmacological and safety specifications of the drugs they claim to be. These counterfeit prescription drugs may be contaminated or may contain the wrong ingredients or no active ingredient at all.
They also could have the wrong dosage even though they have the right active ingredient. Don’t be fooled by fake prescription drugs masquerading as legitimate medicines, as using them may worsen your health conditions.
Tips for Avoiding Counterfeit Prescription Drugs:
- Be mindful of appearance of the packaging. Closely examine the packaging and lot numbers of prescription drugs and be alert to the appearance of the package any changes from one prescription to the next.
- Consult your pharmacist or physician if your prescription drug looks suspicious.
- Alert your pharmacist and physician immediately if your medication causes any adverse side effects (especially if the side effect isn’t one that is listed for that drug) or if your condition does not improve.
- Use caution when purchasing drugs on the Internet. Do not purchase medications from unlicensed online distributors or any pharmacy that sells medications without a prescription. Reputable online pharmacies will have a seal of approval called the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPPS), provided by the Association of Boards of Pharmacy in the United States.
- Be aware that product promotions or cost reductions and other “special deals” may be associated with counterfeit product promotion.
Some of the most common scams and crimes that the FBI encounters, as well as tips to help prevent you from being victimized can be found by visiting the FBI’s White-Collar Crime and Cyber Crime webpages for information on more fraud schemes.
