Cyber-criminals cashing in with online pharmacies
Thousands of Britons are putting their health and bank
accounts at risk by going online to buy drugs from bogus internet
pharmacies run by Russian cyber-criminals, according to a new
report.
Despite repeated warnings, people eager to protect themselves
against a range of diseases, such as swine flu, are shopping at
fake online pharmacies with names such as Canadian Pharmacy or
European Pharmacy.
The sites, which even carry forged copies of certificates
supposedly guaranteeing their authenticity, are run by Russian
criminal gangs that are making millions by flooding the internet
with billions of spam messages selling drugs including Tamiflu and
Viagra.
Those who are tempted by the offers of cheap drugs risk
receiving potentially harmful prescriptions and could be putting
their credit card and other personal details in the hands of
conmen, according to an investigation by Sophos, an internet
security company.
Research by Sophos into one criminal network found that fears
over the spread of swine flu has sent demand for Tamiflu soaring in
the US, Germany, the UK, Canada and France.
The Department of Health has said that more than three
million healthy British children will be offered vaccinations
against swine flu after a "striking rise" in the number of
under-fives requiring hospital treatment.
However, the deaths of 214 people in Britain have been
connected with the virus. Graham Cluley, of Sophos, said: "It is
essential that we all resist the panic-induced temptation to
purchase Tamiflu online. The criminal gangs working behind the
scenes at fake internet pharmacies are putting their customers'
health, personal information and credit card details at
risk.
"They have no problem breaking the law by spamming millions
of people to promote these websites, so you can be sure they'll
have no qualms in exploiting your confidential data or selling you
medications, which may put your life in danger. If you think you
need medication go to your real doctor and stay away from quacks on
the internet," he added.
Sophos found that criminal networks of marketing "affiliates"
or "partnerka" were driving online shoppers to virtual
pharmacies in return for a share of the profits. Investigators
believe tens of thousands of fraudsters, mostly based in Russia,
are promoting the illegal goods with millions of spam messages and
malicious software programmes.
The partnerka operate as well-run businesses.
Organisers are known to put on expensive parties for their members,
send generous gifts and even run lotteries in which the top
producer wins a luxury car.
Sophos's research discovered that in one of the most
well-established affiliate networks operating out of Russia, called
Glavmed, affiliate members can make $16,000 a day promoting
pharmaceutical websites giving them potential annual earnings of
£5.8 million. The criminals can be members of more than one
affiliate network and some have boasted of earning more than
$100,000 a day. Glavmed is associated with more than 120,000 fake
drug websites, the majority branded "Canadian Pharmacy", taking
advantage of Canada's reputation in the US, the biggest market for
online medications, for cheap prescription drugs.
Criminals also infect computers with software that directs
those searching for Tamiflu on search engines to the fake sites.
Other techniques include inserting spam comments in blogs and on
social networks. Those who do order Tamiflu or other drugs from
these sites often receive nothing.
However, those who see their orders filled run an additional
risk. When security researchers at Cisco's IronPort ordered pills
and had them analysed they found that two thirds of the shipments,
which came from India, contained the correct active ingredient but
in the wrong dosages, others were placebos. "Consumers take a
significant risk of ingesting an uncontrolled substance from
overseas distributors," the researchers said.
The new warning came after hundreds of websites were shut
down last week for selling fake or illicit drugs around the world.
Interpol and the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory
Agency co-ordinated raids in 24 countries, confiscating thousands
of orders linked to more than 750 illegal websites.
A Department of Health spokesman said: "There is no need to
pay for antivirals. They are free on the NHS and being offered to
all who need them. Anyone who buys medicines from internet sites
could be in danger of receiving counterfeit or substandard
medicines."
• There are more than 200 genuine online pharmacies in
Canada, which has a reputation for providing cheap, safe
medications. Consumers should only use an online pharmacy if it is
licensed, offers security and privacy of information, provides an
address and phone number, requires a valid prescription and medical
data.