🔗 Share this article Fraudsters' Fake Goods 'Could Cause Real Harm' You have heard and read so much regarding the use of weight loss injections to get slim, you feel the moment has come to give it a go in the run-up to the festive season. However, the issue lies in cost. But it seems alternatives exist rather than obtaining a doctor's script and going to the chemist. An SMS arrives giving a link to a site with more affordable medication – and requiring no need to go through official channels. You also noticed a similar ad on social media the other day, prompting you to take the plunge. The problem is these ads are almost certainly scams. At best, you will be sent nothing and forfeit any funds you paid. In the worst, you receive a fake version, containing unspecified components which may result in serious medical issues. The popularity of authentic weight loss medications has resulted in a increase in counterfeit products hitting the market and deceptive practices set up to merely steal people’s money. Health authorities have warned against buying these illegal weight loss medicines absent a doctor's order from beauty salons, fake pharmacy websites or through social media, saying they might include “harmful substances and additional components which may provoke real harm”. Recent statistics from a major retail bank reveal a sharp rise in the number of customers who have been affected by the fraud. According to the bank, the amount of money lost to scams involving weight loss injections, injector pens, pills and fat-dissolving products between July and September , was more than double the overall amount stolen in the prior quarter. The average scam sets back sufferers £120, it says. “Scammers are actively exploiting individuals' self-doubts and health concerns, with such frauds soaring in the past few months,” notes a bank’s head of fraud. How It Appears Most occur on communication platforms and social networks. Across platforms, an account may imitate the brand that you seek, but you'll often notice slight variations in spelling or logos. These communications or updates will often use pressure-inducing language such as “time-sensitive deal”, “exclusive deal” or “free giveaway”. As the price of some legitimate weight loss jabs, has increased of late, the scammers will price their “item” lower. “Buying from unapproved vendors online can come at a serious monetary, medical and emotional cost,” warns the fraud expert. Recommended Actions Like any deceptive scheme, the old adage applies: should something seem overly advantageous, then it probably is. Health regulators have cautioned people to be highly vigilant when purchasing medications online. These products must only be obtained from a registered pharmacy using a prescription provided by a medical practitioner, it says. If sourced elsewhere, they may pose significant dangers to wellbeing. Criminals can expend considerable effort to make their site or online profile look as authentic as possible. If they claim to be an online pharmacy based in Great Britain, you can check the online portal of the pharmaceutical regulatory body to ensure this is properly registered.