Alert on DEA Phone Scammers

In episode 046 I talk about buying medication safely. And one of the places you should not buy your medication is on-line, especially from public classified ads. TLDR version: Be safe. Be smart.

There is no safe, way for Americans to get medications over the Internet or via phone to an unregistered pharmacist without a doctor's prescription.

Let me count the reasons:

1. For one, it isn't legal.
2. You don't know what you are really going to get, could be fireplace ash. Could be Drano. Could be 10x the dosage of a standard Fenty pill. That sucker has taken 10 to 12 people out at a time. Permanently out.
3. You could be setting yourself up to be targeted by a scammer.

Here is how it works. You buy drugs from, oh I don't know, the back of Claptrap Weekly. You pick them up or have them mailed to you.

A week or two goes buy. You get a phone call from a so-called law enforcement person that tells you that the drugs you have are illegal and you will be locked up unless you pay the fine.

By wire. Or Western Union. Or a payment app.

And that is if you are lucky. Some folks paid by credit card thinking it was a one-time payment.
Nope. You don't get a phone call.

Your later find out your credit card is maxed out.

For the record, drug enforcement officers or the police do not take credit cards or wire transfers payments.

If they want you they come to get you. Unannounced. Don't be that person the neighbors are looking at funny at 5:30 in the morning.

Again for the back row. Be safe. Be smart. Pharmacists that can do telephone processing have to be registered with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Every pill issued by a pharmacist is accounted for and a doctor and pharmacy connected with it.

A scammer just has your name and phone number. There is a press release from the DEA that goes into more details, including that the scam isn't limited to consumers. They are also calling doctors with false messages about patients reporting them for over-prescribing.

If you or you know somebody that has fallen for the scam, you can report it to the DEA, there is a link on the DEA website.

Disclaimer: 

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Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.