Buzz
If you've purchased medications from illicit online pharmacies, you might have plenty of reasons to be anxious—but an FDA warning letter isn't one of them. The FDA usually sends letters to illegal pharmacies, not customers. So if you get a letter from the “FDA,” someone’s trying to deceive you.
The FDA has issued a warning that any “warning letters” consumers might receive are fraudulent. They definitely don’t want you purchasing from illegal pharmacies (like prescription drugs without a prescription), but they’re also worried these fake letters are part of an international extortion scheme.
If you happen to receive one of these letters, the FDA encourages you to report it—though it puts you, the person who allegedly purchased questionable drugs, in a bit of an uncomfortable situation. Regardless, here’s what the FDA advises:
If you think you’ve received a fake warning letter, email [email protected] with as much information as possible about the letter and its packaging. Be sure to include photos or scanned documents to assist with the FDA’s investigation into the scam.
In conclusion, you shouldn’t expect to receive any legitimate FDA letters in the mail regarding this issue. As today’s statement clarifies, “we generally don’t take action against individuals for purchasing medicine online, although we frequently take action against the owners and operators of illegal websites.”
