Check for licensing and accreditation. Look for verifiable licenses from your country’s regulatory bodies and accreditations from organizations like the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) program.
- Confirm their physical address. A legitimate pharmacy will have a clearly stated physical address, not just a PO box. Verify its existence using online maps. Scrutinize their contact information. Legitimate pharmacies provide multiple contact options: phone number, email address, and a physical address. Check if the phone number works and if emails are responded to promptly.
Examine their security measures. A secure site uses HTTPS (look for the padlock icon in your browser’s address bar). They should clearly outline their data privacy policy.
Read customer reviews and testimonials. Look for consistent positive feedback across multiple review platforms. Be wary of overwhelmingly positive reviews, which can be fake. Verify their pharmacist information. Reputable pharmacies will list the names and qualifications of their pharmacists. Check their medication dispensing practices. Look for details on how they handle prescriptions, storage, and shipping. They should provide tracking information.
Compare prices carefully. While lower prices might seem attractive, excessively low prices can indicate counterfeit medications. A slightly higher price from a reputable source is worth the peace of mind.
- Report suspicious pharmacies. If you encounter a website that seems fraudulent, report it to your local regulatory authorities.
