Ozempic Scams: Why They’re Increasing and How to Stay Safe

Many people looking to shed some extra pounds quickly consider using Ozempic. Due to its popularity, shortages are common, and scammers are taking advantage of the situation.

Let’s explore how Ozempic scams work and how to avoid them.

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But first, here are some interesting stats to understand why these scams are skyrocketing and why it’s important to be aware of them.

⇒ One in six Americans has used a weight-loss drug.

⇒ The Ozempic market is expected to hit $11 billion in 2024 and grow at an 8 to 10 percent rate each year.

⇒ J.P. Morgan Research predicts that the GLP-1 market (the class of drugs to which Ozempic belongs) will exceed $100 billion by 2030.

⇒ The CDC reports that obesity in the U.S. has risen from 30.5% in 1999–2000 to 41.9% in 2017–2020 and continues to increase, fueling the demand for weight-loss solutions.

⇒ According to McAfee, scam attempts for Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs increased by 183% in the first four months of 2024 compared to the last three months of 2023.

⇒ Meta’s Ads Library data indicates that thousands of advertisements related to Ozempic are currently running. A common pattern observed is that the promoted websites and the accounts hosting these ads appear newly registered.

How Ozempic Scams Work

These scams revolve around fake websites that claim to sell Ozempic at discounted prices without a prescription. Victims typically find these sites through social media posts.

Ozempic scams are prevalent on TikTok, where new profiles pop up every day, advertising the drug at prices much lower than the usual $1,000 per dose. These posts often include video testimonials of people claiming they have lost weight with Ozempic.

Some scammers pay for ads on social media and search engines to attract more victims to their fake websites. Once on these sites, victims can buy as many Ozempic pens as they want. To look legitimate, some sites require victims to have a video call with a doctor or pharmacist before ordering Ozempic pens.

Other websites might ask you to fill out a “health questionnaire.” In reality, scammers use this to collect additional personal information about their victims, which they can use for other scams.

When victims try to pay, they are limited to non-standard payment options such as digital wallet apps or wire transfers, in which getting a refund is very unlikely. That’s a major red flag that many choose to ignore.

Additional Fees

In some cases, fraudsters go as far as adding extra fees to try to squeeze more money out of their victims’ pockets. After paying for the drug, victims may also be required to pay a “discreet shipping fee.”

If they refuse to pay the fees, scammers may threaten to report them to the FDA for buying drugs without a prescription.

Of course, scammers disappear after paying for the drug and all the extra fees.

In the worst-case scenario, scammers may ship counterfeit or low-quality Ozempic. Getting fake drugs is worse than not getting the product you paid for.

These counterfeit drugs may contain varying amounts of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, or other dangerous substances that can cause a wide range of health issues, severe side effects, and hospitalization.

To help consumers identify authentic products and avoid consuming counterfeits, the Food and Drug Administration has released a statement highlighting the key differences.

Red Flags to Watch For

No Prescription Required

You need a prescription to buy Ozempic. If a seller doesn’t ask for one, that’s a major red flag. You should never purchase prescription drugs from sellers who don’t require you to upload your prescription.

Low Price Ozempic

Real Ozempic is expensive, and hefty discounts indicate the product is counterfeit or not the actual drug. Don’t buy Ozempic or any other medicines at unusually low prices.

Alternative Payment Methods

The fact that only non-standard payment methods, such as wire funds or online payment apps, are accepted is a major red flag. Scammers prefer alternative payment methods because they are harder to trace. If a seller only agrees with these types of payments, that’s a major red flag.

The Offer Expires Soon

Scammers often say the discounts on Ozempic will soon expire to pressure you into buying quickly. They want you to rush and order the product without checking anything.

How to Protect Yourself Against Ozempic Scams

Never buy drugs that require a prescription from Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, TikTok, Telegram, or shady websites.

Always buy prescription drugs from licensed pharmacies. Consult the FDA’s website to verify if a pharmacy is licensed.

Don’t buy drugs advertised at unusually low prices. This is a strong indication that they may be counterfeit.

Keep in mind that buying prescription-only drugs without a prescription is illegal.

What To Do if You’ve Been Scammed

Report the scam to the payment service you’ve used to send money to scammers. If anyone contacts you, claiming they can get your money back, don’t reply. They might be scammers trying to trick you again.

If you saw ads on social media or met someone selling these prescription-only drugs, report the scammers to the social media network where you met them:

• Report Facebook scams
• Report TikTok scams

You can also share their names in our compiled Scammer’s List:

• Facebook’s Scammer List
• Instagram’s Scammer List

Warn your family and friends to know about this scam to prevent them from falling victim.

You can also report scammers and any suspicious activity to the Federal Trade, and the FBI Internet Complaint Center by using the pages below:

• Report to the FTC
• Report to the FBI Internet Complaints Center

If you receive medications you suspect to be counterfeit Ozempic, you can report them to the World Health Organization by email or to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

How to Protect Yourself More

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Feel free to explore additional articles on related fraud. Last but not least, if you had any bad experiences, make sure to use the comments section below to expose the scammers!