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FOXNewshealth.com managing director Dr. Manny Alvarez on con artists posing as FDA agents and extorting money from patients.
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Beware of coal is claiming to be from the FDA the agency says con artist posing as federal agents have been extorting money from people who buy medications -- line.
And over the telephone accusing them of breaking the law Fox News health dot com managing -- Dr.
Manny Alvarez joining us now his medical dollars -- important.
How exactly does this scam work.
Hello scam works very assembly by they somehow they getting information on you they call you up -- out of personal home and basically said all you bought some medication online.
You know that's illegal inappropriate you part of whatever -- we need to know a lot of information and they get personal information from you whether you use a credit card may be credit card numbers.
Sometimes they say well you know we -- if if you don't.
If you don't pay this fine we're gonna deport you war Hillary for you to other authorities and -- a federal crime and whole thing.
You know and it's unfortunate because and I like to tell people you know the FDA doesn't even -- doctors.
So anybody about half a half and don't have anybody that really calls you at home.
And then claiming to be -- entity would before from any agency regarding.
-- especially any kind of medical service of medication.
The that the thing they you have to remember is hit -- -- a compliance is a federal law that really protects the consumer.
And you know personal information when it comes to medicine's when he comes to.
To -- treatments so it's it's almost impossible for any agency to call you up.
And saved by the way this is the facts of your case and we want you to give us more information.
So never do it always hang up the phone and never follow through.
I'm the same thing by the way is happening online -- yeah or more online you'll get these these emails within say what we noticed that you had a transaction on.
Buying in certain drugs on the that I and that can you we know -- from the federal agent FDA we want more information.
Fill out this form there because -- don't -- that is applicable to map for that never and is incredibly inappropriate and it will never if that's not.
Ever legitimate way.
That any legitimate agency would work on another issue which is kind of -- -- to this how do you know web -- is trustworthy when it comes to medication.
Well what I say is you know what it comes to medication and I have to go on the record -- You know if if that in the web site belongs to a and well known pharmacy chain Walgreen CVS is those national change that's a reputable.
Right upside target pharmacy services.
All of those.
But if if you globally and medication fifth.
Which most people do the -- -- -- -- our -- right you know cheap.
Lipitor.
You'll see that there there engine we'll show you twenty sites and they look like online -- legit.
That is not reliable that is not reliable because what we're finding aside from the fact that your personal information being confiscated.
You also find that the quality of the medications are not I'm not real right these pills look like the real stuff.
But many times anything they may have a little dash of medication.
That could sort of mimic and help you but in the reality they're the junk that they -- with.
It's basically cement and power -- and I'll be deployed now that cannot be good for you -- don't ever ever rely on these.
Online medicines medications from sites like that have because that's that's not in -- proper way of really going on line to get your help very good advice thank you so much thank you.
