Prescription / Pharmacy Scams

WE all like to think we are alert to criminals scamming us. But as a black market in skinny jabs grows, no one is safe. Regulators cracked down on another major fake jab manufactu...

# Romance and confidence scams are surging in Austin, with people over 50 losing approximately $19 million in 2025 alone, according to new FBI data—making the area a hotspot for fraudsters who specifically target older adults for their accumulated wealth and perceived lack of cybersecurity awareness. The scams typically involve elaborate trust-building schemes on dating sites and social media, where criminals pose as successful investors or romantic interests to manipulate victims into sending money. To protect yourself, the FBI advises remaining cautious of online relationships that quickly turn to financial matters, never sending money to people you've only met online, and verifying any investment opportunities through independent sources before committing funds.

The City of Birmingham, Alabama scheduled a free Financial Fraud Workshop for January 31, 2026, designed to educate residents about common scams including phishing, identity theft, credit card fraud, healthcare scams, and romance scams, with practical guidance on recognizing red flags and protecting themselves and their loved ones. However, the event has been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a future date. In the meantime, residents can protect themselves by being skeptical of unsolicited communications, never paying via gift cards, verifying requests for personal information through official channels, and discussing potential scams with trusted family members or friends before taking action.

Cybersecurity experts warn that AI voice cloning scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and dangerous, allowing criminals to impersonate trusted figures like family members, police officers, and bank employees to manipulate victims into sending money or revealing personal information. These scams use emotional pressure tactics and create artificial urgency, with warning signs including demands to keep the call secret, stay on the line, or pay via cryptocurrency, gift cards, or ATM transfers. To protect yourself, establish a family password that must be provided before responding to urgent requests for money or personal information.

Scammers are flooding social media with fake ads for weight-loss drugs and products, including deepfake videos of celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and fake pharmacies selling unapproved medications that may never arrive. The Better Business Bureau warns that millions searching for affordable GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are vulnerable to these scams, with victims reporting losses of hundreds of dollars and non-functional refund processes. To protect yourself, be skeptical of celebrity endorsements for weight-loss products on social media, verify medications through licensed pharmacies only, and check with the FDA before purchasing any weight-loss drug or supplement.

The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about scams targeting people seeking weight loss and GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, which scammers are exploiting due to high demand and limited availability. Fraudsters use fake websites, text messages, deepfake videos of celebrities and doctors, and AI-generated images to trick people into purchasing fake or unsafe products, with victims losing hundreds of dollars and struggling to get refunds. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited messages about weight loss offers, verify celebrity endorsements independently, only purchase medications from legitimate pharmacies, and avoid clicking links in suspicious texts or ads.

As weight loss medications like Ozempic surge in popularity, scammers are exploiting demand through fake websites, fraudulent texts, and AI-generated celebrity endorsements that trick consumers into buying counterfeit products or handing over personal information. The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau reports receiving numerous complaints about these scams, which range from fake doctors promoting bogus weight loss products to phony online pharmacies offering discounted medications that either never arrive or are unsafe. To protect yourself, consumers should only purchase medications from legitimate, licensed pharmacies, verify endorsements directly with official sources, and be wary of unsolicited messages claiming you're eligible for exclusive deals on prescription medications.

Scammers are exploiting people's New Year's weight loss goals by creating fake websites and phony offers for popular GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, stealing money and personal information from unsuspecting buyers. The fraud includes fake online pharmacies, celebrity deepfake ads, and fraudulent retailer popups, with victims sometimes losing hundreds of dollars. To protect yourself, only purchase medications through legitimate, reputable pharmacies with valid prescriptions, and verify any retailer or pharmacy website before providing payment or personal information.

The scam industry has evolved from petty crimes into a sophisticated, borderless operation that costs the global economy billions annually and now funds organized crime and destabilizes communities. Digital technology—including social media, cryptocurrency, AI deepfakes, and gig economy platforms—has made it easier for scammers to operate at scale, from forced labor operations running romance scams in Southeast Asia to boiler-room fraud targeting North Americans and pyramid schemes preying on economically vulnerable communities worldwide. To protect yourself, remain skeptical of unsolicited messages and offers that seem too good to be true, verify contact information independently before sharing personal or financial information, and report suspected scams to local authorities.

A sophisticated phone fraud wave is targeting older adults, particularly during winter when seniors spend more time indoors and rely heavily on phone communication. Scammers are using spoofed local phone numbers and impersonating government agencies (Medicare, IRS, Social Security) or medical providers to manipulate seniors into sharing personal information or sending money through high-pressure tactics. Experts advise older adults to remain skeptical of unexpected calls, verify caller identity independently by hanging up and calling official numbers directly, and never provide personal or financial information over the phone.