Online Buyer Beware

(HealthScoutNews) -- Be wary of online drug-dispensers.

Con artists are rife among the hundreds of Web sites selling medical products, so before you buy, check out the vendor's legitimacy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests these tips for online consumers:

• Call the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to find out whether the site is a licensed pharmacy.
• Don't buy from sites that will sell you a prescription drug without a prescription or sell drugs not approved by the FDA.
• Steer clear of sites where there's no registered pharmacist to answer your questions.
• If the vendor doesn't list a contact address and phone number in the U.S., look elsewhere.
• Don't get sucked in by jargon that makes grand claims about a product you've never heard of.
• Talk to your doctor before trying any medication for the first time.

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