News & Updates
The Latest on Internet Pharmacies, Supplements, Designer Drugs,
and Other High-Risk Merchants
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…
If It Works As Well As a Drug, It May Be One
Products to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) remain extremely popular online, and so many federal agencies around the world search the internet for products that are dangerous or otherwise illegal. Because card brands may issue fines based on the warnings and alerts issued by regulatory bodies around the world, it’s important for payment service providers to…
Decriminalization of Psychedelic Mushrooms May Boost Demand Online
In the United States, the legal status of hallucinogenic mushrooms appears to be at an inflection point. In May 2018, President Trump signed the “Right to Try Act,” which permits terminally ill patients to try drug treatments not yet approved by the FDA, including the use of some psychedelics. Furthermore, Oregon recently became the first…
The Super Bowl Can Cause Super Problems for Payment Service Providers
Of the top 30 most-watched television broadcasts in the history of the United States, Super Bowl events comprise 29 of them. They have drawn as many as 114 million TV viewers per game and tens of thousands of in-person spectators. That’s an attractive audience for anyone looking to target consumers, including cybercriminals and others engaged…
