News & Updates
The Latest on Internet Pharmacies, Supplements, Designer Drugs,
and Other High-Risk Merchants
With Travel Increasing, so Are Chargeback Risks for Payment Service Providers
Summer is peak travel season and typically one of the busiest times of year for airlines, resorts, and other travel and entertainment businesses with many moving parts. That’s especially true this year, as generally lower levels of COVID-19 cases paired with pent-up demand are yielding travel volume equal to and in some cases greater than…
Rise in Telemedicine Use Poses Challenges and Opportunities for Inclusivity
The pandemic has changed healthcare in the United States, making telemedicine and other online services increasingly commonplace. Although many last year sought out telehealth offerings to avoid exposure to the coronavirus, the convenience of online services may make telehealth a regular feature of people’s healthcare. That’s particularly important for disadvantaged populations, who often have greater…
Leech Websites Serve as Accomplices to the Pirates of Illicit Streaming
In January of this year, amendments to the Japanese Copyright Act took effect to strengthen internet anti-piracy measures, joining other countries with strict copyright laws such as the US. Japan’s expanded scope includes websites offering illegal downloads of manga, books, newspaper articles, academic journals, and software programs, among other copyrighted materials, and was preceded…
Pandemic Underscores Problem of Fake Medical Device Registrations
Products marketed to treat, mitigate, or prevent the COVID-19 virus have saturated the online market over the past year as consumers have become desperate to protect themselves and their families. While many people are now likely aware of the flood of deceptive claims made around drugs, supplements, and other products, LegitScript has observed another scam…
Trend Toward User-uploaded Content May Increase Risk of Child Sexual Abuse Material
Like many forms of online entertainment, the adult industry is increasingly shifting to a model based on user-created and user-uploaded content, rather than the traditional studio-produced model. This decentralized format may create new opportunities for individual content creators, but it poses significant risks for adult content platforms, social media companies, and payment service providers. User-uploaded…
Rogue Internet Pharmacies Persist Through Pandemic
Rogue internet pharmacies have thrived during the pandemic, preying on unwitting customers looking to buy medication online for the first time, and drawing in buyers trying to access unapproved drugs to treat COVID-19. LegitScript has been tracking these rogue networks as they have tailored their messaging and their offerings to target new audiences. As part…
How a New Federal Law is Transforming Online E-cigarette Sales
Online sales of e-cigarettes and other vaping products are undergoing a monumental shift in the United States. The Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act — passed in December 2020 as part of the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act — amended the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act by expanding the original definition of “cigarette”…
Springtime Can Sprout Tax Scams and Marijuana Sales
What do taxes and marijuana have in common? At this time of year, both can draw cybercriminals seeking to capitalize on noteworthy dates: April 15, which is usually Tax Day in the US, and April 20, which is a day on which many celebrate marijuana. These are just some of the seasonal high-risk trends in…
The Opioid Crisis Spurs Abuse of Lookalike Products
The opioid crisis has plagued the United States since the 1990s, and while the country continues to battle opioid misuse and overdose, a new threat has emerged throughout the past several years: a substance abuse crisis involving opioid-like products. This threat is characterized by the increased popularity of abusing non-narcotic substances to experience opioid-like effects,…
A Post-Pandemic Ryan Haight Act May Create Uncertainty for Telemedicine
Use of telehealth services in the United States has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many turning to the internet to access medical care to avoid the risks associated with in-person doctors’ visits. A study released by the CDC in October last year reported a 154% increase in telehealth visits during the last week of…
