Catherine Rusoff
Weight loss medications like Wegovy and Ozempic have exploded in popularity over the past two years, causing a shortage. Amid growing demand, scammers on social media took notice, offering to send weight-loss drugs at lower prices — and without a prescription.
A joint investigation carried out from February to April by non-profit organizations Digital Citizens Alliance It is Coalition for a Safer Web examined dozens of TikTok profiles offering to sell prescription weight loss medications at lower prices. In almost every situation, the transaction turned out to be a scam.
Some of the videos researchers found offered testimonials about the weight-loss medications used, along with before-and-after photos showing what appeared to be results. One video featured a comment from a supposed customer, who said: “Great product, fast delivery and I’ve already lost 16 kilos.”
However, researchers said that all of these videos were actually scams to attract vulnerable buyers hoping to lose weight.
“As we looked for them over time because of the Tiktok algorithm, they started looking for us. Therefore, it was not difficult to find several dozen operators offering Ozempic. the Digital Citizens Alliance.
Galvin said he has had dozens of online chats with sellers. Some claimed to be legitimate pharmacies offering to ship Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy.
The alleged scammers accepted payments through online services such as Zelle, PayPal and Venmo, but researchers said they never received any products.
TikTok told CBS News in response to the investigation that it removed accounts that violated its guidelines.
A TikTok spokesperson said it “has firm policies prohibiting this behavior.” The company added that it “proactively identifies 95% of the content it removes for violating its US drug and fraud rules.”
Galvin said consumers who are misled by ads can be harmed in several ways.
“One is that you will be defrauded. The second is that you will receive medications, and they will be counterfeit and harmful. And the third is that you will indeed receive Ozempic, but not using Ozempic under medical care can be dangerous, and all three of these things are very bad results for Americans.”
According to a Digital Citizens survey, approximately one in six Americans has used Ozempic or a similar medication. The main use of these medications is to control diabetes.
A TikTok spokesperson said the study has limitations because it found only a few problematic accounts and that prescription drug fraud can also be found on other social media channels.
Meanwhile, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy told CBS News that their products have varying dosages and should not be used without the care and advice of a medical professional.
Ana Werner
