- More than 5,000 faux pharmacies websites have secretly found data harvest while pushing counterfeit medicines
- False pharmacies often jump prescriptions and require cryptocurrency, exposing users to fraud and dangerous products
- Articles generated by AI and false criticisms induce users every day to trust platforms of scam drugs
A global network of more than 5,000 false pharmacy websites has been discovered by safety experts.
Designed to imitate legitimate drug retailers, platforms sell counterfeit or unregulated drugs while collecting sensitive personal and financial data.
In many cases, they target buyers looking for discreet access to treatments such as erectile dysfunction pills, antibiotics, steroids and weight loss drugs.
The blurred line between help and evil
According to a recent Gen threat report, the “pharmufraud” operation is based on a combination of misleading design and technical manipulation.
Sites often use health articles generated by AI, falsified criticism and misleading advertisements to obtain visibility and credibility.
Many of them are structured to get around the basic trust indicators, the omission of commercial identification information and the use of security payment methods such as cryptocurrency.
The danger is not limited to the quality of medicines sold, as these websites often encourage users to enter private medical details, download documents or provide payment information, which can be used in secondary fraud campaigns.
Even when a product is delivered, there is no guarantee that it is safe or effective – some can be expired, contaminated or simply false, posing risks far beyond financial loss.
The report has also noted a broader increase in cyber-menses targeting individuals and small businesses. Financial scams increased by 340% in just three months, often using false announcements and chatbot forms to usurp the identity of legal or investment services.
Technical support scams – frequently appear in the form of browser windows – Rose too, many users have been attracted to the call of false help lines.
Staying safe from false pharmacy scams and related cyberrencies requires a combination of awareness and practical digital precautions.
How to stay safe
- If a website offers prescription drugs without requesting a valid prescription, avoid it.
- Make sure that the contact details and details of the store companies are clear
- There should be a verifiable physical address before trusting an online pharmacy with sensitive or financial data.
- If the prices are unusually low, be careful. Do not also fall for limited duration offers and payment requests via cryptocurrency is a large red flag.
- Check that the website uses a secure payment process (HTTPS) and trust payment gaters.
- Use antivirus software to detect hidden malware that can be integrated into fraudulent medical sites or malicious pop-up windows.
- Allow a firewall to block suspicious traffic in known scam areas, reducing the chances of interacting with harmful websites or receiving deceptive push notifications.
- Install the protection of termination points on several devices if you manage a small business or manage sensitive data.
- Be skeptical about unlined health councils, products of products or miracle healing complaints found through announcements, emails or links on social networks.
