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You've come across so much about people using slimming jabs to get slim, it feels like it is time to give it a go ahead of the holiday period. The problem is expense.

Yet it appears alternatives exist instead of getting a prescription and visiting the chemist. A text message arrives giving a link to a site with much cheaper drugs – and with no need to go through official channels. And you saw a comparable advertisement on online platforms recently, prompting you to take the plunge.

The problem is such promotions are almost certainly scams. At best, you'll receive nothing and lose whatever money you paid. In the worst, you receive a fake version, containing unspecified components which may result in severe health problems.

The widespread use of authentic weight loss medications has led to a increase in counterfeit products entering circulation and deceptive practices set up to simply take people’s money.

Health authorities have warned against purchasing such unlawful slimming medications without a prescription from beauty salons, fake pharmacy websites or through digital platforms, stating they could contain “toxins and other ingredients that could cause genuine injury”.

Recent statistics from a major retail bank show a sharp rise in the number of clients who have been affected by the fraud. According to the bank, the amount of money lost to scams involving weight loss injections, pens, pills and fat-dissolving products during the third quarter this year, was over twice the overall amount stolen in the prior quarter. Each incident typically costs victims £120, reports indicate.

“Scammers are deliberately targeting individuals' self-doubts and health concerns, with these scams skyrocketing in the past few months,” notes a financial institution's fraud prevention lead.

How It Appears

The majority occur on messaging apps and social networks. On socials, a profile may mimic the brand that you are looking for, but you'll often notice subtle differences in spelling or logos.

The messages or updates will frequently use urgency-laden phrases such as “time-sensitive deal”, “exclusive deal” or “complimentary gift”.

As the price of some legitimate weight loss jabs, has increased recently, the fraudsters will price their “product” lower.

“Buying from unverified sellers on the internet can entail a serious financial, medical and psychological toll,” says the security specialist.

What to do

Like any deceptive scheme, the old adage applies: should something seem too good to be true, then it probably is.

Medical authorities have cautioned people to be extremely cautious when purchasing medications via the web. They should solely be acquired from a licensed chemist with a valid script provided by a medical practitioner, they advise. When procured from other sources, they can present significant dangers to wellbeing.

Criminals can expend considerable effort to make their site or social media page appear completely genuine. If they claim to be an online pharmacy located within the UK, you can check the online portal of the pharmaceutical regulatory body to ensure they are properly registered.