- More than 5,000 false pharmacy websites were secretly collecting data while pushing falsified drugs
- False pharmacies often omit recipes and demand cryptocurrencies, exposing users to fraud and dangerous products
- The articles generated by AI and false criticisms deceive users to trust the drug platforms of the scam every day
A global network of more than 5,000 false websites of pharmacy has been discovered by security experts.
Designed to mimic drug legitimate retailers, platforms sell counterfeit or unregulated medications while harvesting confidential personal and financial data.
In many cases, they go to buyers seeking discreet access to treatments such as erectile dysfunction pills, antibiotics, steroids and weight loss medications.
The blurred line between help and damage
According to a Gen’s recent threat report, the “Pharmafraud” operation is based on a foolish design combination of the site and technical manipulation.
Sites often use health articles generated by AI, counterfeit revisions and deceptive ads to gain visibility and credibility.
Many of them are structured to avoid basic confidence indicators, omit commercial credentials and use insecure payment methods such as cryptocurrency.
The danger is not limited to the quality of the medicines sold, since these websites often lead users to enter private medical details, load documents or provide payment information, all of which can be exploited 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, which pose risks far beyond financial loss.
The report also indicated a broader increase in cyber threats aimed at individuals and small businesses. Financial scams increased by 340% in just three months, often using false ads and chatbot forms to impersonate legal or investment services.
Technical support scams, which often appear as emerging browser windows, also increased sharply, with many users attracted to call false help lines.
Staying safe from false pharmacy scams and related cyber threats requires a combination of consciousness and practical digital precautions.
How to stay safe
- If a website offers prescription medications without asking for a valid recipe, avoid it.
- Make sure the contact information and the store’s commercial registration details are clear
- There must be a verifiable physical address before trusting any online pharmacy with confidential or financial data.
- If prices are unusually low, be careful. Do not fall in love with limited time offers and payment requests through cryptocurrency is a large red flag.
- Verify that the website uses a safe payment process (HTTPS) and reliable payment catwalks.
- Use antivirus software to detect hidden malware that can be integrated into fraudulent medical sites or malicious emerging windows.
- Allow a Firewall to block the suspicious traffic of known fraud domains, reducing the possibilities of interacting with harmful websites or receiving deceptive thrust notifications.
- Install the protection of the end point on multiple devices if you manage a small company or handle confidential data.
- Whether skeptical of unplayed health advice, product reviews or miraculous cure claims that are found through advertisements, emails or social media links.
