US market: 50% of medicines sold online are fake or counterfeit – Visa Inc. fight against illegal online pharmacies

A recent review of more than 11,000 websites selling prescription medications online to U.S. consumers found approximately 96% do not comply with U.S. laws and 50% of medicines sold online are fake or counterfeit. Counterfeit products sold online may contain little or no active ingredients and/or dangerous and often deadly poisons. Interpol estimates that counterfeit medicines are responsible for up to one million deaths annually worldwide.

“Our research shows that lower prices and convenience of shopping online are the two biggest factors driving consumers to the Internet, making older Americans easy targets for illegal online drug sellers offering ‘too good to be true’ discounts for fake or unapproved versions of the lifesaving medicines they depend on,” said Marjorie Clifton, executive director of the Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies. “The criminal networks who develop fake websites have become very savvy in creating sites that are difficult to detect by even the most sophisticated consumers and law enforcement. This is why it is imperative that consumers are informed and our organizations are working together to do everything they can to shut down illegitimate sites.”

Buying prescription medicines from illegal online pharmacies increases the risk of credit card and identity theft. This is why Visa Inc. joined the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP Global) as member.

“While the vast majority of e-commerce merchants operate legitimate businesses, we recognize the threat presented by illegal online pharmacies that endanger public health and erode trust in the payment system by selling consumers counterfeit drugs,”  said Martin Elliott, global head of brand protection for Visa. “We are proud to join ASOP Global to protect cardholders and the integrity of electronic payments systems.”

 “Illegal online drug sellers make billions of dollars selling dangerous counterfeit and unapproved medicines,” explained Libby Baney, ASOP Global’s Executive Director. “Visa’s membership in ASOP Global demonstrates their commitment to helping deny rogue online drug sellers access to electronic payments.”

“As long as people are at risk of receiving dangerous, illegitimate products through rogue websites, ASOP Global will do everything it can to protect consumers worldwide,” Baney said. “We applaud Visa for joining us in our mission to address the growing public threat of illegal online drug sellers and protect Internet consumers worldwide.”