Scam Alert: Beware of Bogus FDA Agents

What a great idea: Buying the medicine you need online. It can save time and gasoline by cutting out that drive to the drug store. But it's not all upside. 

Since 2008, hundreds of people who have purchased drugs over the Internet or by phone have unwittingly exposed themselves to extortion by individuals posing as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agents. 

Despite continuing investigations and arrests by FDA, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement's, Homeland Security Investigations, such scams are hard to trace and eliminate. And -- according to Philip Walsky, special agent in charge at FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) -- they are likely to continue. 

You've been warned 

FDA has warned in the past that consumers face an increased risk of purchasing unsafe and ineffective drugs from Websites operating outside the law, and about the danger that personal data can be compromised. 

These criminals are getting personal information from transactions with individuals buying drugs online or by telephone, or from medical questionnaires frequently sought by illegal online websites. Personal information can also turn up on customer lists obtained by criminals. These lists can contain tens of thousands of names and a great deal of self-reported information, including names, addresses, telephone numbers, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, purchase histories and credit card account numbers. 

Here's how the scam works: Someone will call you and identify him or herself as an FDA special agent or another kind of law enforcement official. You'll be told that purchasing drugs over the Internet or telephone is illegal and be threatened with prosecution unless a fine or fee -- ranging from $100 to $250,000 -- is paid. If you refuse to pay up, the caller threatens to search your properties, arrest or deport you, put you in jail and even harm you physically. 

Just hang up 

Since the scams first came to FDA's attention, Walsky and other OCI staff have handled dozens of calls from alarmed consumers. "I tell them it's a scam," Walsky says, "and that the best thing they can do is ignore the caller and hang up." 

Walsky and others who have spoken to concerned consumers also assure that no federal official would ever contact a consumer by phone and demand money or any other form of payment. As for actual physical danger, no known victim has ever been approached in person. Most of the fraudulent callers are actually based overseas, Walsky says. 

The call is likely a scam if the so-called agent directs you to send the money by wire transfer to a designated location, usually overseas, and if you are warned not to call an attorney or the police. In fact, FDA special agents and other law enforcement officials are not authorized to impose or collect fines imposed for criminal acts. Only a court can take such action, with fines payable to the U.S. Treasury. 

According to Walsky, some fraudulent callers have a "veneer of legitimacy" about them. Like many telephone solicitors for illegal prescription medications, he says, they're based overseas and use Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone numbers, which enable extorters to select phone numbers with specific area codes, and change numbers frequently. 

Some even go to the trouble of using the Internet to find names of actual FDA law enforcement personnel, Walsky says. And they are adept at exploiting people's fears. 

Stopping the calls 

Walsky advises victims of these scams to change whatever phone number(s) the caller used to contact them in the first place, and to stop buying drugs online unless they know the Website is trustworthy. If you have purchased medication online or via telephone, you may also want to alert your credit card company and make sure that your account is up to date, and that no suspicious charges have been made against your credit card.

Victims can report their experience to FDA here. 

Trustworthy Websites 

Some online Websites sell prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications that may not be safe and can put your health at risk, including counterfeit versions of FDA-approved medications. When buying medications online, it helps to know the following signs of a trustworthy Website: 

• It's located in the United States and provides a physical street address.
• It's licensed by the state board of pharmacies where the Website is operating. A list of these boards is available at the website of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).
• It has a licensed pharmacist available to answer your questions.
• It requires a prescription from your licensed health care professional for prescription medicines.
• It provides contact information and allows you to talk to a person if you have problems or questions.

In addition, many Websites display the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPPS) seal. The VIPPS seal verifies that an Internet pharmacy is safe and meets state licensure requirements and other NABP requirements.