A diabetic woman has revealed how she became the victim of a potentially deadly scam after being forced to buy Ozempic online due to a shortage of the drug.
Lexi Ortanez, 26, purchased the items from someone claiming to be in the medical industry, but when her package arrived she immediately knew something was wrong.
“When I opened the box it looked and felt strange – the packaging felt flimsy and the pen looked completely different to any I’m used to,” she told DailyMail.com.
It turned out to be an insulin pen, but Ortanez said it could have been fatal if she had injected herself, as even a tiny amount can cause diabetic shock.
Her story is just one of many of criminals exploiting the surge in demand for Ozempic and Wegobee for profit-making schemes, including the theft of patient data.
Cybersecurity firm McAfee has identified 176,871 phishing emails and 449 dangerous websites advertising counterfeit goods this year alone.
“It was terrifying and potentially life-threatening when I realised I had almost injected the wrong drug, thinking it was Ozempic,” Ortanez said.
“if [my mother and I] I hadn’t double checked carefully.
“Even if someone is desperate to find Ozempic, it’s not worth risking their life.”
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Unscrupulous operators are selling obesity medications without a prescription at discounted prices, some even cheaper if customers pay with cryptocurrency.
Cybercriminals use fake websites, phishing emails, and popular websites like Facebook and Craigslist to spread weight loss treatment scams.
Scammers have created fake profiles on Facebook Marketplace to advertise the drug at discounted prices, many of them claiming to have excess stock or an overseas alternative to Ozempic that doesn’t require a prescription, tricking unsuspecting shoppers.
Vaccines for sale on social media platforms range from $0 to $500 for a one-month supply and can be found by anyone with a quick search.
DailyMail.com found several counterfeit injections on the website and also published reviews confirming the seller’s products are fake.
Cybercriminals may even pose as doctors to make their scams more believable.
For example, one scammer posed as a Canadian “Dr. Melissa” and promoted the non-prescription medications Mounjaro and Ozempic on Facebook Marketplace.
Customers are being asked to pay with non-traditional methods like Bitcoin, Zelle, Venmo and Cash App, which McAfee described as a big “red flag.”
Not only is Craigslist advertising the fake shot, it’s also offering funding to participate in Ozempic studies.
In April, researchers found 207 Ozempic scams posted on a classified ads site in just 24 hours.
This proves that victims are “more susceptible” to website-based weight-loss scams, McAfee researchers said.
McAfee first discovered a Telegram channel promoting weight loss scams in March, and the channel’s membership grew from 13,362 to 15,599 within a matter of weeks.
Abhishek Karnik, head of threat research at McAfee, told DailyMail.com: People can encounter these scams after typing phrases such as “weight loss solutions” on social media platforms, and they are also prevalent on messaging apps.
Victims are often fooled by “seemingly positive” user reviews that are typically “fabricated,” he warned.
“As people seek more information, they are gradually lured into the scam. Each channel can have thousands of subscribers, so the potential scale of these scams is huge.”
Karnick said there are three main factors behind the rise in weight-loss scams. The first is exploitation of Ozempic’s popularity and shortage.
“This is a great opportunity for scammers, who see an opportunity to exploit people desperate for drugs by offering counterfeit products or alternatives that may not meet safety standards,” he explained.
Second, scammers target people who want to circumvent the traditional healthcare system for reasons of convenience or cost, offering them medications without a prescription.
They may even deceive users by “posing as legitimate online pharmacies or resellers.”
Finally, these drugs can cost as much as $1,000 per month, leaving many people searching the web for cheaper alternatives that scammers claim to offer.
Karnick said cybercriminals were using fake online reviews to make deals seem “more trustworthy” and “financially advantageous”.
“Unfortunately, this has led to people being deceived by seemingly trustworthy sellers claiming to sell drugs at what they believe to be cheap prices,” he continued.
Many of these fake reviews are created using AI tools, which Karnick said increases the “scale, effectiveness and speed of these frauds.”
“These scammers are eager opportunists who are able to quickly pivot and capitalize on consumer interest when an opportunity arises, such as growing interest in weight-loss drugs like Ozempic,” he explained.
“They may use a variety of digital platforms and technologies to contact potential victims, spread the word about their fraudulent offers and collect personal information from their victims.”
Falling for such a scam can have serious consequences for victims’ “finances, health and well-being,” Karnick said.
He explained that financial losses could range from “hundreds to thousands of dollars per transaction,” with scammers racking up millions of dollars on Telegram alone.
Additionally, victims risk having their personal information, such as health information, stolen by cybercriminals, he said, which could lead to “further fraud and identity theft.”
But McAfee researchers warned that beyond financial and personal data loss, there are also “serious health risks”.
“Scammers often sell these drugs without a prescription,” allowing them to avoid safety checks and potentially “cause harm,” he explained.
“In extreme cases, it can have adverse effects on the user’s health. This is a real risk because unauthorized sellers typically do not disclose potential side effects and may sell products that have not been safety tested,” Karnick continued.
“It is important that consumers understand that prescription drugs should only be purchased with a prescription from a trusted provider and that claims that seem too good to be true are likely not true.”
To avoid such scams, Karnick said people should only purchase weight loss treatments with a prescription from a “trusted, licensed health care provider.”
Other signs include products being advertised on platforms like Craigslist and Telegram, sellers asking for payment in cryptocurrency and “incredibly good” discounts, he said.
Victims of weight loss fraud should report their financial losses to their banks, block their credit cards and file crime reports, he added.
Jake Moore, head of global cybersecurity at antivirus provider ESET, has also seen an increase in scammers capitalizing on the Ozempic trend.
“Scammers target new fashions and trends to trick people who are unfamiliar with the idea,” he told DailyMail.com.
He advises people to think carefully before buying any weight loss drugs, but admits that this can sometimes be difficult.
“Discovering brands and accounts on social media sites remains extremely difficult and may involve similar brand names to legitimate businesses,” Moore concluded.
“It is therefore important that people only buy from trusted and authentic sites and thoroughly research companies before handing over any sensitive or financial information.”
