OZEMPIC - a weight loss drug that has taken Hollywood by storm - is leaving behind a trail of loose belts and even baggier wallets.
But the weight loss drug - and others like it - aren't just on the minds of celebrities and their fans, but scammers too.
There has been an almost 200 per cent spike in Ozempic and weight loss drug related scams online in the first four months of this year, a new report from McAfee has revealed.
The cybersecurity giant has snared 449 malicious websites offering the illegal sale of weight loss drugs in that time, as well as over 170,000 phishing attempts.
And it's not just the shine of Ozempic that's luring in consumers, but Wegovy, and other Semaglutide or GLP-1 drugs too.
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Celebrities have been shelling out thousands on weight loss drugs in recent months, and have been experiencing dramatic physical changes like so-called 'Ozempic face'.
Skinny jab prescriptions can cost people north of £1,000 ($1,300) per month, according to McAfee.
So consumers are trying to get their hands on heavily discounted - but illegal - alternatives.
“Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for ways to make their scams more attractive and believable," said Abhishek Karnik, head of McAfee’s Threat Research Team.
"Tapping into the current craze for Ozempic and related weight loss drugs is one way scammers can lure you in through phishing emails, fake social posts, or ads, all under the guise of a deal that seems too good to be true."
Lethal lottery
Medications that work like Ozempic are not available over the counter.
But buying Ozempic - and other prescription drugs - without a sign-off from a doctor is illegal in the UK and the US.
As is the way with many illicit activities, people will search for them anyway - particularly if they're being advertised as 'safe' and 'cheap'.
These sites promise weight-loss drugs at a discounted price, without prescription or delay, which could be tempting for many.
Abhishek Karnik, head of McAfee’s Threat Research Team
Dieters seeking illegal skinny jabs online are not only putting their life saving's at risk, but their lives.
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A Sun on Sunday investigation previously revealed that the quantity and strength of the active ingredient in the weight loss injections varies enormously between suppliers.
Michelle Sword, who bought a fake Ozempic jab on Facebook for £150 ($190), nearly died after injecting it.
Carefully crafted
McAfee says these malicious websites are carefully crafted, often using artificial intelligence (AI) for an air of legitimacy.
They entice consumers in the same ways a Summer Sale on Asos might - through countdown clocks and banners asserting urgency.
Most websites have little other purpose than to entice consumers into clicking a nefarious link to steal and sell their personal information, and take off with their bank details.
Other scammers have advertisements and group pages on social media and message groups.
Many who send off a payment, receive nothing in return.
Instead of the medication you’re hoping for, you’ll be opening yourself up to money loss and data and identity theft.
Abhishek Karnik, head of McAfee’s Threat Research Team
'Few hundred to several thousand'
The amount of money being lost to weight loss scams is significant, McAfee warns, ranging from a 'few hundred to several thousand' pounds.
And because the transaction was illegal to begin with, there is nothing consumers can do to retrieve their lost funds.
The success of the scam, which preys on a body image crisis sweeping Europe and North America, has dumped millions of dollars into the pockets of fraudsters in a matter of months, according to the report.
“These sites promise weight-loss drugs at a discounted price, without prescription or delay, which could be tempting for many," Karnik cautioned.
"However, instead of the medication you’re hoping for, you’ll be opening yourself up to money loss and data and identity theft.
"When it comes to avoiding these types of drug scams, the safest decision is to purchase from a reputable medical provider or pharmacy that requires a prescription."
