When an offer needs a closer look

Look for these points of doubt

No prescription required

Federal law forbids supplying prescription drugs when there is no valid prescription. These rules were checked September 26, 2026.

Custom-made, but called the same

FDA, short for Food and Drug Administration, cautions against claims that a custom-made drug is the same as an approved product. That warning was checked September 26, 2026.

A research label attached to treatment claims

A label may use the words “for research purposes”. Another wording is “not for human consumption”. It describes laboratory work, rather than treatment for a person.

FDA warnings checked September 26, 2026 describe these weight-drug products being sold for human use. Their quality is not known. Using them may cause harm.

A code or registration is not approval

A drug-identifying code

An NDC identifies a drug by code. It does not show FDA approval, under FDA’s explanation checked September 26, 2026.

A drug-making place can register with the FDA, meaning it is listed there. That listing does not approve its products, under rules checked September 26, 2026.

Request the product’s full name and a record that answers the approval question.

Check what happens after payment

FDA’s pharmacy guidance checked September 17, 2026 flags damaged packaging and the absence of a licensed pharmacist to answer questions.

A convincing page can conceal an unsafe pharmacy, so appearance alone is not enough.

Consumer protection in the U.S. is the work of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

FTC advice checked September 26, 2026 warns about sellers accepting only gift cards, bank or wire transfers, payment apps, or cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency means digital money.

Treat a demand to pay only in those ways as a sign of a scam.

Keep a copy of the offer and ask for written answers to the gaps you found.