Beware fake pharmacies

New campaign urges patients to check online pharmacies before buying medicines

People buying medicines online are being urged to take a few simple precautions before placing an order, as regulators warn that fake online pharmacies are putting patients’ health at risk.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), which regulates pharmacies in Great Britain, has launched a public awareness campaign encouraging people to check that an online pharmacy is properly registered before buying medicines. The campaign comes amid growing concerns about counterfeit medicines and increasingly sophisticated scam websites.
 

Weight-loss medicines in the spotlight

The warning is particularly relevant for people looking to buy weight-loss medicines online.

Demand for treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro has grown rapidly, creating opportunities for criminals to exploit shortages and long waiting lists. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has repeatedly warned that fake and illegally supplied weight-loss medicines may contain the wrong ingredients, incorrect doses or potentially harmful substances.

Earlier this year, the MHRA even identified a falsified batch of Mounjaro injection pens that had been supplied through an online pharmacy, demonstrating that counterfeit medicines are now a genuine risk in the UK market.

More recently, regulators have also warned businesses against illegally promoting prescription-only weight-loss medicines, as part of wider efforts to protect patients.
 

How to spot a legitimate online pharmacy

The GPhC says the safest way to buy medicines online is to check that the pharmacy is registered before making a purchase.

A legitimate online pharmacy should:

• Be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland if based there).

• Display its registration details clearly.

• Require an appropriate clinical assessment before supplying prescription-only medicines.

• Provide access to a pharmacist if you have questions.

• Ask about your medical history and any medicines you already take.

You can check whether a pharmacy is registered by searching the GPhC’s online register before placing an order (external link will open in a new browser tab or window).
 

Warning signs to watch for

Patients should be cautious if a website:

• Offers prescription-only medicines without asking any medical questions.

• Sells medicines without requiring a prescription where one is legally needed.

• Advertises prices that seem dramatically cheaper than elsewhere.

• Has poor spelling, missing contact details or no registered address.

• Promotes medicines heavily through social media or unsolicited messages.

• Requests payment by unusual methods such as cryptocurrency or bank transfer.

These can all be signs that the website is not operating legally.
 

Protecting yourself

Buying medicines from an unregistered website is not just a financial risk. Fake medicines may contain little or none of the active ingredient, the wrong dose, or substances that could seriously harm your health.

If you are considering buying medicines online – particularly popular treatments such as weight-loss drugs – take a moment to check that the pharmacy is properly registered first. It only takes a few seconds, but it could help protect both your money and your health.
 

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Further reading and resources

You can report suspect medications or other adverse healthcare-related incidents to MHRA

Pharmacy First scheme – get treatment for common medical conditions from a pharmacy

Medicine shortages reported

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