Latest News & Updates

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  As Coronavirus Spreads, So Do Fake, Unapproved, and Ineffective Test Kits

  

  By Ciara Laing

  on March 19, 2020

  LegitScript has been proactively monitoring the online space in response to the outbreak of the virus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, and has identified an increasing trend in the marketing of coronavirus-related products that present an elevated risk to consumers, payment service providers, and e-commerce platforms. In particular, the severe shortage of diagnostic kits to test…

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  New Warning Letters Signal Forceful Approach to Containing Coronavirus Treatment Claims

  

  By David Khalaf

  on March 09, 2020

  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Monday seven warning letters they issued jointly to business owners making potentially problematic claims that their products can treat or prevent the new coronavirus. These letters appear to reflect aggressive action by the federal agencies to stop businesses capitalizing on COVID-19 fears…

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  North Carolina Man Receives Maximum Sentence for Selling Dangerous Chemical for Weight Loss

  

  By David Khalaf

  on February 13, 2020

  The US Department of Justice announced recently that North Carolina resident Barry Clint Wright was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for his role in the online sale of 2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP), a substance abused by bodybuilders and other people for weight-loss purposes. Wright, 38, received the maximum statutory sentence for introducing an unapproved drug…

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  LegitScript’s First Probationary-certified Company Earns Full Certification

  

  By LegitScript Folks

  on January 30, 2020

  We’re pleased to announce that Chemist-4-U, LegitScript’s first probationary-certified company, has now earned full certification. The change in status occurred early in the new year and is a reflection of about two years in which the online pharmacy has remained in compliance with LegitScript’s certification standards. Probationary certification is for applicants who have had past…

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  LegitScript Helps Shut Down 6,149 Rogue Internet Pharmacies in 2019

  

  By LegitScript Folks

  on January 23, 2020

  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…

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  Five Reasons Counterfeit Goods Put You at Risk

  

  By David Khalaf

  on January 09, 2020

  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…

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  Are Synthetic Cannabinoids Behind Recent Vaping-related Lung Injuries?

  

  By David Khalaf

  on December 11, 2019

  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…

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  Etizolam Use Surges as Unapproved Xanax Alternative

  

  By Colin Baylor

  on November 19, 2019

  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…

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  Don’t Get Burned By Merchants Selling Ear Candles

  

  By Lauren Tabrizy

  on November 12, 2019

  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…

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  Laughing Gas: A Serious Matter for Consumers and Payment Service Providers

  

  By LegitScript Folks

  on November 04, 2019

  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…