Verbatim response from Perplexity
The biggest red flags are no prescription requirement, prices that are far below normal, and sellers that can’t prove they’re a licensed pharmacy.[1][3][5][12] Also watch for foreign-shipping claims that don’t match the product labeling, unusual payment methods, and sites that make overly rosy or “miracle” claims.[1][3][4][10]
Key warning signs include:
- No prescription or medical screening before checkout.[1][3][5][12]
- Deep discounts or “too good to be true” pricing.[1][3][4][5][10][12]
- Unusual payment methods like Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.[4][10][11][13]
- No verifiable pharmacy license, no licensed doctor or pharmacist available, or no real business address/phone number.[3][7][12]
- Claims that the drug is the same as an FDA-approved product when it’s compounded or “generic.”[3][8]
- Suspicious shipping or packaging, such as medicine that looks different from standard Ozempic, arrives damaged, lacks instructions, or has misprinted labels.[3][14]
- Foreign or “Canada” shipping claims that don’t line up with U.S.-drug identification numbers or licensed pharmacy details.[1][10][16]
- Fake-looking reviews or pressure tactics, such as sudden urgency, lots of generic five-star reviews, or spammy testimonial patterns.[4]
- Misleading health claims, like guaranteed rapid weight loss or no side effects.[4][10]
If you want the safest approach, buy only from a licensed, reputable pharmacy that requires a valid prescription and has a pharmacist or prescriber available for questions.[3][12][16]