If anyone knows a good deal when they see one, it’s an internet scammer.
The trendy weight loss drug Ozempic, which can cost $1,000 a month, is an opportunity that seems too good for them to pass up.
New research released by McAfee, a computer and cyber security company, says that phishing scams target Consumer interest in weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Semaglutide increased 183% from January to April compared to the previous three months.
Criminals use phishing scams to trick people into sharing personal information. A scammer usually sends an email or other message pretending to be a company or individual the victim is familiar with, asking for credit card information, passwords or other sensitive information.
Most of the scams take place on sites like Facebook or Craigslist, where researchers said they found 207 fake posts advertising Ozempic in just one day in April.
On Facebook, scammers often pretend to be doctors, claiming to dispense Ozempic and other over-the-counter drugs, the report said. After contacting potential victims, scammers pressure them into using unconventional payment methods for prescription drugs, McAfee says.
“One example on Facebook Marketplace involved a Canada-based ‘Doctor Melissa’ who could provide over-the-counter Mounjaro and Ozempic, with payment available through Bitcoin, Zelle, Venmo, and App Cash — all of which are non-standard methods payments for prescription drugs and should be red flags for consumers,” the report says.
While studies say Ozempic costs only $5 to manufacture, the drug sells for about $1,000 a month. That high price makes some consumers more eager to get a cheap deal online, McAfee says.
“Cybercriminals are always looking for ways to make their scams more attractive and believable,” Abhishek Karnik, head of McAfee’s Threat Research Team, told Business Insider. “Taking advantage of the current craze for Ozempic and related weight loss drugs is one way scammers can lure you in through phishing emails, fake social posts or ads, all under the guise of a deal that looks too good to be true.” was true.”
Some tips McAfee recommends to avoid falling victim to scams are to stay away from unofficial sellers, watch out for suspiciously low prices or strange payment methods, and look for missing product details, such as expiration dates.
“Scam websites typically lack verifiable product information and are sometimes poorly designed with grammatical issues,” the company says. “Pay attention and read the fine print.”
If you fall victim to a scam, the money can be difficult for law enforcement to recover. The Federal Trade Commission recommends contacting any company, bank or credit card company that helped facilitate the money transfer to try to recover the stolen funds.
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