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Estafa de la farmacia online falsa: cómo funciona, señales y qué hacer

Shopping scams · alto

Websites and spam offer medicines at discounts that seem too good to be true, often without asking for a prescription. Some imitate well-known pharmacies. The buyer may receive nothing, have card details stolen or get a counterfeit or substandard product.

The US FDA lists signs of a safe online pharmacy: it always requires a doctor's prescription, provides a US physical address and phone number, offers a pharmacist to answer questions and is licensed with the state board of pharmacy. Red flags: selling without a prescription, very cheap prices, spam, being located outside the US and lacking a US license.

Sinais / Signs

  • Prescription drugs sold without a prescription
  • Deep discounts that seem too good to be true
  • Unsolicited email offering cheap drugs
  • No physical address, phone or pharmacist available
  • No valid license in the country or state

Prevenção / Prevention

  • Buy only from pharmacies that require a prescription
  • Check the license with your state board of pharmacy
  • Ignore spam and ads for cheap medicines
  • Ask your doctor where to buy safely
  • Pay by credit card, which makes disputes easier

O que fazer / What to do

  • Don't take the product you received and see your doctor
  • Ask your card issuer to dispute the charge and block the card
  • Report the site to the FTC and health authorities
  • Watch for misuse of the data you submitted

FAQ

Is a pharmacy that sells without a prescription always a scam?

For prescription drugs, the FDA flags this practice as a sign of an unsafe pharmacy.

How can I check whether an online pharmacy is legitimate?

Per the FDA: it requires a prescription, has a US address and phone number, a pharmacist available and a state board of pharmacy license.

FDA - BeSafeRx: Know the Signs

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