An increasing number of bogus medical products being sold through unauthorised websites claiming to treat or prevent COVID-19 are being investigated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The MHRA has said that these include self-testing kits, ‘miracle cures’, ‘antiviral misting sprays’, and unlicensed medicines.
The MHRA has disabled 9 domain names and social media accounts selling fake or unauthorised COVID-19 products.
The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau is also seeing reports from victims who have lost money when they have tried to purchase PPE or self-testing kits online, from fraudulent websites, that simply do not exist.
At this time, there are currently no medicines licensed specifically for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 and there are no CE marked self-testing kits approved for home use.
Lynda Scammell, MHRA Enforcement Official said:
“Don’t be fooled by online offers for medical products to help prevent or treat COVID-19
“There is no medicine licensed specifically to treat or prevent COVID-19, therefore any claiming to do so are not authorised and have not undergone regulatory approvals required for sale on the UK market. We cannot guarantee the safety or quality of the product and this poses a risk to your health.
“The risk of buying medicines and medical devices from unregulated websites are that you just don’t know what you will receive and could be putting your health at risk.
“We are working alongside other law enforcement agencies to combat this type of criminal activity.”
This circular is being shared under the Open Government Copyright licence.
