The popularity of legitimate weight loss medications has led to a rise in fake goods and scams, with fraudsters exploiting people's insecurities and health concerns. The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned that buying these illegal weight loss medicines without a prescription from beauty salons, fake pharmacy websites or via social media could contain 'toxins and other ingredients that could cause real harm'.
New figures from Santander show a sharp rise in fraud cases. The amount of money lost to scams involving weight loss injections, pens, tablets and fat-dissolving products between July and September was more than double the total stolen in the previous three months. The average scam costs victims £120.
Michelle Pilsworth, Santander's head of fraud, said: 'Fraudsters are actively exploiting people's insecurities and health concerns, with these scams soaring in recent months.' Most scams take place on messaging apps and social media, where accounts may mimic legitimate brands with subtle differences in spelling or logos. Urgency-laden phrases such as 'limited-time offer' or 'exclusive deal' are common.
As the price of some legitimate weight loss jabs, such as Mounjaro, has increased, fraudsters price their products lower. 'Buying from unverified sellers online can come at a serious financial, health-related and emotional cost,' Pilsworth added. The MHRA advises people to only obtain such medicines from a registered pharmacy using a prescription from a healthcare professional. If a site claims to be a Great Britain-based online pharmacy, consumers can check registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
