How to spot a fake online pharmacy

Score the site. One flag warrants caution; three or more means do not transact.

1. 1Sells prescription-only medicine without a prescription.
2. 2Offers a questionnaire instead of a prescription for controlled or high-risk drugs.
3. 3No named responsible pharmacist anywhere on the site.
4. 4No verifiable physical address or licence number.
5. 5Licence number that does not appear on the regulator's own register.
6. 6Accepts only cryptocurrency, wire transfer or gift cards.
7. 7Prices far below every other supplier of the same pack.
8. 8Domain registered very recently or hidden behind privacy protection.
9. 9No secure connection on payment pages.
10. 10Copied text or stock photography reused from other pharmacy sites.
11. 11Unsolicited email, SMS or social media advertising.
12. 12Claims to treat conditions with no approved treatment.
13. 13Countdown timers, fake stock counters or other urgency tactics.
14. 14No adverse-event reporting or complaints procedure.
15. 15Customer service that refuses to answer direct sourcing questions.

Criminal operations frequently clone the visual design of legitimate pharmacies, register a similar domain name, and reuse genuine regulatory logos. Some maintain responsive customer support and ship promptly, because a smooth experience reduces complaints and extends the site's lifespan.

This is why behavioural signals matter more than appearance. A well-built site that will ship prescription-only medicine without a prescription has told you exactly what it is, regardless of how professional it looks.

Regulators act on reports. Reporting a suspicious seller is often what triggers an investigation or a domain takedown.

• United States: report to the FDA and to the NABP.
• United Kingdom: report to the MHRA.
• European Union: report to your national medicines agency.
• Include the URL, screenshots, order details and any packaging photographs.