Blog Articles

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…

One of the aspects of cannabidiol (CBD) sales that can attract regulatory scrutiny is the way in which merchants market their CBD products. In the past five years, the FDA has sent many warning letters to manufacturers and merchants of CBD products for claims that their products can prevent, cure, mitigate, or treat diseases. No…

We’re happy to announce a new certification program for legally compliant CBD products and websites. Starting today, US manufacturers and merchants can apply through LegitScript to certify CBD products and websites that are in compliance with USDA, FDA, FTC, and DEA regulations, as well as state-specific laws. LegitScript is the global leader in merchant and…

Starting in July, drug and alcohol addiction treatment providers that are certified by LegitScript will see revised pricing that reflects expanded benefits and takes into consideration a new initiative to help certify nonprofit addiction treatment providers facing hardship. These changes reflect the improved experience of addiction treatment providers who are currently certified, and help level…

As e-commerce platforms, payment service providers, and regulatory agencies crack down on illicit opioid sales on the internet, many consumers are turning to alternative products, either to replicate the effects of opioids or to aid in opioid withdrawal. Many of these products, however, are unregulated, illegal, and potentially dangerous. LegitScript analysts have recently identified a…

CVS announced in May a new policy that requires all vitamins and dietary supplements in the store to be third-party tested for safety and label accuracy. The “Tested to Be Trusted” program is an innovative initiative to weed out problematic supplements, but will it create new problems for e-commerce platforms and payment service providers operating…

Today’s multilevel marketing (MLM) organizations look nothing like the Amway and Herbalife of the past. Cosmetics and nutritional supplements may still dominate the industry, but companies have expanded into product lines of every sort: essential oils, kitchen gadgets, yoga pants, software, consulting, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. This product expansion, combined with…

Last month, six people associated with Blackstone Labs were charged in an indictment to market and sell illegal dietary supplements for use in bodybuilding and weight loss. The indictment is significant because of the size and reach of Blackstone Labs, and because of the way it is alleged to have deceptively labeled products for years….

In 2012, LegitScript estimated that at least half of the rogue online pharmacies in the world were registered through ABSystems, a registrar operated by criminal mastermind Paul Le Roux. This massive network of online pharmacies, which fell under the umbrella of an operation called RX Limited, facilitated the sale of prescription drugs to US customers…

The CEO of Enhanced Athlete, Inc., a California-based dietary supplement distributor, pleaded guilty late last month to a felony related to the marketing and sale of DNP, a dangerous substance used by bodybuilders and others for weight-loss purposes. The plea made by Scott Cavell came just weeks after a criminal conviction in a UK court…

I’m happy to announce that, starting in March, Bing will require LegitScript certification for providers of drug and alcohol addiction treatment who want to advertise in the United States. The certification program, which launched in July 2018, is now recognized by Bing, Google, and Facebook for addiction treatment providers looking to advertise. According Melissa Alsoszatai-Petheo,…

If you’ve read our Drop-shipping FAQ Guide, you know that drop-shipping merchants pose an elevated risk because of increased chargebacks and the potential for transaction laundering. But are you aware of drop-shipping clusters and the increased likelihood they are engaged in fraud? Learn about this danger that may be in your portfolio, hiding in plain…

Most payment service providers are smart enough to be on the lookout for rogue merchants selling steroids or SARMs for use in bodybuilding. But what they may not be aware of are merchants selling synthol, a potentially dangerous injectable masquerading as a harmless topical. Although synthol and other products like it have been around for…