Blog Articles

As part of our mission to help create an internet everyone can trust, LegitScript regularly reports “rogue” internet pharmacies to the registrars that sponsor these domain names. In 2019, LegitScript issued 63 notifications comprising 7,083 domain names. This complimentary notification service helps registrars take action against illicit operators and helps prevent the public from buying…

Intellectual property infringement made news last month with noteworthy enforcement and legal actions in the United States and beyond. First, a US federal complaint described an international counterfeiting ring that smuggled $472 million worth of counterfeit sneakers into the country. Then, Europol announced it had shut down more than 30,000 websites for selling fake or…

As of early December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 48 deaths and nearly 2,300 hospitalizations associated with e-cigarettes and vaping. While the CDC has identified many brands responsible for the outbreak, there is still considerable uncertainty about what substance in vaping products is causing these illnesses. New research has left…

Etizolam, also known as thienodiazepine, is related to a class of substances known as benzodiazepines. Typically sold in a powder or tablet form, etizolam has gained prominence in the illicit drug market in recent years due to its similarity to other popular benzodiazepines, or “benzos,” such as Xanax and Valium. Etizolam was originally developed for…

Ear candling, also referred to as “coning,” is a popular practice believed to draw wax and other impurities out of the ear. Despite their widespread availability, these products are unapproved medical devices that can leave both consumers and payment service providers burned. Read on to find out what these products are and the regulatory framework…

Nitrous oxide, a colorless and odorless gas, is becoming increasingly popular around the world as a party drug that goes by many names – “laughing gas,” “hippy crack,” and “whippets,” among others. LegitScript has noticed a growing trend of nitrous oxide appearing on websites and e-commerce platforms, being marketed in ways that indicate use for…

In a cautious win for off-label prescribing, one of the world’s most commonly used drugs for more than 50 years has recently evolved into what can only be described as a phenomenon in the treatment of severe depression and suicidal ideation. Ketamine – a psychoactive analgesic (pain-blocking) sedative – is considered by many in the…

Over the past six months, LegitScript’s analysts and policy experts have been conducting a research project to better understand the online CBD landscape. We’ve looked at the state of compliance, the safety and accuracy of products, and issues around payment processing. What we found in this landmark report is nothing short of disturbing for both…

レジットスクリプトは以前から、個人輸入として販売されている医薬品やサプリメントについての危険性を訴えています。厚労省も同様に注意喚起を行なっています。

In Part 1 of our series, we discussed electronic money and the rules that have allowed e-money institutions to flourish in the European Union with less regulations than banks. This week, we look at an example of how these European businesses have real and widespread influence on criminal operations in the US. A Haven for…

Although electronic money has been around for decades, advancements in technology and new ways of processing payments are making it easier than ever to digitally store, send, and receive money. On the backend, however, e-money processing can be surprisingly complex, as transactions often pass through multiple entities to get from sender to receiver. It’s this…

Have you ever heard of 1-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-6,7-diol or 4-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]phenol? Probably not. How about higenamine or hordenine? That may be more likely, but did you know that 1-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-6,7-diol and higenamine are actually the same ingredient? The same is true for 4-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]phenol and hordenine. Ingredient names can be confusing because manufacturers don’t always follow guidelines set by the…

A new report on the Chinese internet pharmacy market by ASOP Global and LegitScript finds that most online drug sellers are operating illegally, and that a noteworthy percentage are illegally offering prescription drugs or controlled substances. The report, titled “The Chinese Internet Pharmacy Market Threat Assessment,” includes new information about the situation in China related…

LegitScript recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of the launch of our Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment Certification program, and our certification team reflected on both the  lessons and accomplishments of this monumental program. As a member of the customer success team, I see firsthand the value our customers get out of certification. But more importantly,…

The FDA said this week that it is investigating 127 incidents of people suffering from seizures after vaping. The news highlights the elevated risk e-cigarette products pose for legal violations, and why payment service providers should know about the many types of products and parts related to vaping to better monitor their portfolios. The FDA’s…