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Spotting fake goods Fake medicines

Handful of pills

Many fake medicines are placebo drugs with no active ingredients

The World Health Organisation estimates that up to 10% of all medicines available globally are fake.

In the UK, consumers are most likely to encounter fake medicines when shopping online, but you may also be offered counterfeit medicines or vitamins at markets, car boots sales and some independent discount shops.

Impotence, weight loss and anti depressant drugs are some of the most common counterfeit tablets, and are frequently ordered unwittingly by consumers shopping online from unscrupulous traders.

Fake medicine sales

Counterfeiters use unsolicited e-mails, letters and bogus websites to offer fake medicines to unwitting individuals. Many fake medicine tablets are placebo drugs (with no active ingredients) or tablets with just a small quantity of active ingredients. Some tablets could even contain ingredients that can damage your health or make you ill.

How to avoid fake medicines

While there are a number of legitimate registered pharmacies operating on the internet, many websites offering prescription-only drugs are run by people who have no professional qualifications or healthcare expertise.

All retail pharmacies in Great Britain – including those operating online – must be registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPS). Websites run by legitimate RPS-registered internet pharmacies will display the RPS logo.

A reputable pharmacy will offer medical supervision and genuine medicines, but it’s not always easy to tell the genuine pharmaceutical websites from the bogus ones.

How to find safe and reliable pharmacies

  • Buy directly from established high street pharmacies. Prescription drugs should only be ordered once you've seen a doctor who has provided you with a corresponding prescription.
  • Choose a UK-based website registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS). Legitimate pharmacies display the RPS logo that clicks through to the RPS website.
  • Ensure there's a 'bricks and mortar' pharmacy behind the website – check the name and address of the pharmacy operating the website.
  • Avoid websites offering to supply prescription-only medicines without a prescription.
  • Be cautious of any sites that claim to replace face-to-face consultations with a doctor.
  • Avoid any online consultation that doesn't take a thorough medical history and ask you lots of questions.
  • Ensure you are asked questions about your health before purchasing your medicine. Registered pharmacies are required to check that a medicine is suitable for a patient to use before selling it.
  • Don't use medicines without English advice leaflets and instructions, or those that arrive in plain, unbranded packaging.
  • Use a pharmacy websites with a contact address and telephone number in case of any problems – not just an email address.
  • Check drug websites are secure before paying. Secure web-page addresses start with the letters https, instead of the standard http, and you should see a padlock symbol at the bottom of the page (or top on Windows Vista). Double click on the padlock to see the site’s security certificate. See our guide to safer online shopping for more tips and advice.