Fake Viagra Pills Continue to Flood the Market

Phony pills are rampant

Viagra, the first oral drug in the U.S. specifically prescribed for impotency, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1998; Cialis got its stamp of approval in 2003.

That means the war against phony ED drugs has been raging for years. Among recent seizures by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP):

• In December, more than 1 million ED pills, some labeled Viagra, were confiscated at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in California. It was one of the largest seizures ever, a CBP spokesman says. The cache was uncovered in container cargo shipments from China.

• In May, 47,900 counterfeit Cialis pills — plus clothing, sunglasses and shoes that violated trademarks of Chanel, Christian Dior, Nike Air and other firms — were seized at those ports. All the items were from China.

• In October, 15,000 tablets marked as Viagra were seized at O'Hare International Airport along with honey laced with the drug's active ingredient. The shipment from Istanbul was bound for a Michigan residence until the illegal drugs were detected at O'Hare's international mail facility.

Other seizures of late took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Cincinnati; Louisville, Kentucky; Champlain, New York; and Jackson, Mississippi.

Viagra, Cialis most popular fakes seized

John P. Leonard is the No. 2 trade official at Customs and Border Protection

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

A 32-year veteran of the agency, John P. Leonard, tells AARP that the two top drugs it seizes at entry ports are Viagra and Cialis. “Those are the big ones,” says Leonard, the agency's No. 2 trade official.

Some $16.3 million in counterfeit ED drugs were confiscated by CBP in the 12 months that ended Sept. 30, and the counterfeit ED drugs accounted for about 80 cents on every dollar's worth of fake pharmaceuticals seized. Other ED medicines confiscated were Vardenafil, Levitra, Staxyn, Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Avanafil and Stendra. Other types of drugs seized include phony Botox treatments and fake medicines for cancer, cholesterol issues and depression.

For crooks, Leonard says, “it's just a way to make a buck."

A handbag can't hurt you

"The difference with the pharmaceuticals, as opposed to buying a fake Fendi or Louis Vuitton bag, is you're talking about your health,” he warns.

Counterfeits vary. Some have no active ingredients or incorrect quantities. Some have correct quantities but sham packaging. Some contain high levels of impurities and contaminants. Others are illicit copies of the real thing.

In the early ‘90s, the internet was relatively new to the general public. The web became a game changer, as the World Health Organization observed in 2018: “With the exponential increase in internet connectivity those engaged in the manufacture, distribution and supply of substandard and falsified medical products have gained access to a global marketplace."

The explosion in social media messaging has compounded the problem. So, buyer, beware — of fake drugs and suspicious websites, texts and pop-up ads touting pharmaceuticals.

AARP helpline hears about rip-offs

Meantime, AARP's Fraud Watch Network Helpline, 877-908-3360, has fielded calls from consumers who thought they were buying enhancement pills or supplements and were defrauded. They included a man who responded to an ad for a product for $4.95 and was billed $89 for a second bottle. He tried to complain, but the seller's phone number was disconnected. Another man thought he was paying about $16 for shipping an enhancement supplement, but a charge of $190 showed up on his credit card.

Here's guidance to steer clear of the fakes:

• A low price doesn't mean it's smart to buy something.

• Consumers should be aware that sellers of fake products also create fake customer reviews.

• The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NAPB) has a website to check if an online pharmacy is safe. Legitimate sites verified by NABP have “.pharmacy” at the end of their web addresses.

• Emails saying free or low-cost prescription drugs are a phone call away are likely scams, the Federal Trade Commission cautions. The same is true of pitches to visit a website for “free” prescription drugs for a fee.

• Finally, the Food and Drug Administration has a campaign and video with helpful tips.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on July 15, 2021 and has been updated to reflect Viagra no longer advertises on TV.

Katherine Skiba covers scams and fraud for AARP. Previously she was a reporter with the Chicago Tribune, U.S. News & World Report, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She was a recipient of Harvard University's Nieman Fellowship and is the author of the book, Sister in the Band of Brothers: Embedded with the 101st Airborne in Iraq.