OZEMPIC SCAMS ON TIKTOK: THE ONLY THING LIKELY TO GET LIGHTER IS YOUR WALLET
In This Report
Enticed by the prospect of effortless weight loss, Americans have turned to TikTok and other social media platforms to purchase scarce supplies of Ozempic and other prescription drugs – and by doing so have become the perfect dupe for online scammers, a joint investigation by the Digital Citizens Alliance and Coalition for a Safer Web has found.
The investigation conducted from February through April found dozens of entities – some claiming to be legitimate pharmacies – offering to ship Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy used for weight loss. They accept payments on online services such as Zelle – but never ship the drugs.
During the probe, investigators engaged in numerous online chats with dozens of online personas claiming to sell the drugs. None required a prescription. Investigators transferred thousands of dollars as payment – without the drugs ever being shipped.
The moment is perfect for these weight loss scams.
According to the Digital Citizens survey of 1,160 Americans conducted in early May, 31 percent of Americans responded they are interested in using Ozempic to lose weight.
According to the research survey, Americans who are interested in Ozempic are twice as likely as other Americans to consider purchasing prescription drugs online without a prescription.
According to the survey, 22 percent of Americans age 55 and older reported that they received Ozempic or similar drugs from either a friend, family member, or colleague or by making a purchase online even though they didn’t have a prescription.
