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Online Anthrax Cures? Think Again

Scam Artists Prey on Consumers' Fears

November 9, 2001
Consumers who are visiting Web sites and receiving e-mail claiming to sell Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and other antibiotics to treat anthrax should think again.

Scam artists follow the headlines, tailoring their offers to prey on consumers' fears and uncertainties. An alert from teh Federal Trade Commission advises consumers to:

• Talk to your doctor before you use any medications. Confirming an infection requires a doctor's examination and diagnosis. This is particularly important for anthrax.
• Be aware that some Web sites may sell ineffective drugs. Some sites may claim to sell FDA-approved drugs, like Cipro, made to meet U. S. standards. In fact, the drugs could be counterfeit or even adulterated with dangerous contaminants.
• Know who you're buying from. Would you buy a prescription drug from a sidewalk vendor? Online, anyone can pretend to be anyone. To ensure that the site is reputable and licensed to sell drugs in the United States, check with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy at www.nabp.net to determine whether a Web site is a licensed pharmacy in good standing.

Also:

• Don't buy prescription drugs from sites that offer to prescribe them without a physical exam, sell drugs without a prescription or sell drugs unapproved by the FDA;
• Don't do business with Web sites that don't give you access to pharmacists to answer questions;
• Avoid sites that don't provide their name, physical business address, and phone number;
• Don't buy from foreign Web sites. It is generally illegal to import drugs that are sold by these sites; the risks are greater, and there is very little the U.S. government or anyone else can do if you get ripped off.
• If you buy drugs online, pay by credit or charge card. This gives you the opportunity to contest the charge if the drug does not arrive or is unsatisfactory.

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