DEA Issues Warning About Illegal Online Pharmacies
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has issued a warning about illegal online pharmacies, citing an increase in the selling and shipping counterfeit pills made with fentanyl and methamphetamine to unsuspecting customers in the United States who believe they are purchasing real pharmaceutical drugs.
"As Americans increasingly turn to online pharmacies to purchase necessary medications, DEA is issuing this Public Safety Alert to warn of an increase in illegal online, often foreign-based websites that are deceptively targeting American consumers. DEA has identified websites being operated in India and the Dominican Republic. Many of these sites purport to be legitimate, U.S.-based or FDA approved sites, but are actually working with drug traffickers to fulfill online orders with fake pills," the DEA statement said. "These website operators are going to great lengths to make the websites look like legitimate online pharmacies – they offer 24-hour customer service, post online reviews and safety facts, and offer deep discounts to deceive customers into believing they were buying from a reputable business."
The DEA said the websites use U.S. addresses and professional-looking designs to appear legitimate.
"These companies operate illegally, deliberately deceiving American customers into believing they are purchasing safe, regulated medications when they are actually selling fake, counterfeit pills made with fentanyl or methamphetamine," the DEA said. "Fake medications can lead to serious health risks, including harmful side effects, ineffective treatment, and even death."