Fake Drugs: How to Spot Counterfeit Medicine and Protect Yourself

Fake drugs are common online and in some local markets. They can look real but may contain the wrong ingredient, the wrong dose, or nothing useful at all. This guide gives clear, usable checks you can do right away—before you buy or take any medicine.

Quick red flags to watch for

Price too low: If a brand-name pill sells for a tiny fraction of usual price, that’s a major warning sign. Scammers lure buyers with steep discounts.

No prescription required: Legitimate pharmacies ask for prescriptions for prescription meds. If a site ships without one, don’t trust it.

Website issues: Check for HTTPS, clear contact info, a physical address, and a real pharmacist phone number. Look up the domain age—very new sites are risky.

Bad packaging or pills: Blurry labels, missing batch numbers, odd fonts, broken seals, different pill markings, odd color or taste—these are signs of counterfeit or mishandled products.

Suspicious shipping: If the package arrives from a country you didn’t expect, or the box is tampered with, be careful.

How to verify meds and pharmacies

Check accreditation: Use third-party lists like PharmacyChecker, CIPA (for Canadian sellers), or your country’s pharmacy regulator. In the US, NABP has tools to verify registered pharmacies. Don’t rely only on seals on the seller’s website—click through to the verifier’s site.

Ask for a pharmacist: A legitimate online pharmacy will let you talk to a licensed pharmacist. Call and ask questions about the medicine and shipping.

Inspect the product: Compare pill markings, size, color, and packaging to photos on the manufacturer’s official site. Look for a batch number and expiry date. If there’s a QR code or serialization, scan it to confirm.

Check reviews carefully: Read independent reviews on forums or consumer sites, not just testimonials on the seller’s site. Watch for repeated positive reviews that read the same—they could be fake.

What to do if you suspect fake drugs

Stop taking the medicine immediately. Keep the pills and packaging. Contact your prescriber to discuss alternatives and any health risks. Report the seller to your national regulator—FDA MedWatch in the US, MHRA in the UK, or your local health authority. You can also contact the drug manufacturer with batch details; many companies will confirm authenticity if you send photos or numbers.

Protect future buys: Use licensed local pharmacies where possible. For online purchases, require a valid prescription, use known retailers, and verify accreditation before you pay. When in doubt, pay a little more for safety—your health is worth it.

Want help checking a specific site or pill? Send the product name, seller URL, and photos of the packaging and pill markings—we’ll walk through how to verify it.