Fighting Fraud
By Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland
As many people kick off the new year by refocusing on health, wellness and financial stability, Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) Serving Greater Cleveland is urging consumers to stay alert to a rise in health-related scams. One of the most concerning emerging schemes involves fraudulent messages claiming that consumers are “eligible” for weight-reducing GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic or Wegovy.
How the GLP-1 Text Scam Works
Since 2022, GLP-1 medications have surged in popularity, fueled by celebrity endorsements and viral social media trends, but deceptive advertising for these products has been widespread for several years. Scammers have quickly taken advantage by:
- Producing deepfake videos of public figures “endorsing” fake products
- Mimicking legitimate sellers’ websites to trick buyers into entering personal information
- Creating phony social media ads promising quick access to weight-loss drugs
- Running non-delivery schemes in which consumers pay but never receive the medication
The BBB advises consumers to exercise caution when receiving unsolicited messages that promise medications or other benefits.
Recipients should:
1. Contact your healthcare provider. Never click on a link in an unsolicited text. Instead, reach out directly to your doctor, health insurance company, or the legitimate online service you use.
2. Know the signs of a fake text. Look for misspellings, generic greetings, unexpected links, urgent tone, or messages that don’t name the provider or company. Read BBB’s tips on spotting the red flags of fake text messages.
3. Don’t click links or download unexpected files. Scammers can disguise URLs to look legitimate. When in doubt, delete the message. Learn how to identify if a link sent in a text message is safe.
4. Block the number and delete the message. Do not respond or engage. Blocking reduces the chances of additional attempts.
5. Report suspicious texts. Help others stay safe:
- File a report through BBB Scam Tracker
- Report to the FBI’s IC3 at ic3.gov
- Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM)
To find businesses in your area, go to BBB.org/Search. Have additional questions? Reach out to your BBB at 216-241-7678 or [email protected]. Have a scam to report? Report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker.
