**Surge in Counterfeit Weight Loss Drugs Raises FDA Alarm** The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about the rise of counterfeit weight loss medications sold online. This alert comes amid increasing demand for GLP-1 drugs, which are popular for weight management. Nicole Johnson, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, reported a significant increase in counterfeit weight loss drugs. "Patients are willing to do anything to get their hands on this product, and they're risking their lives," she said during an interview. Many individuals are turning to illegal online sellers to obtain these medications. A simple internet search reveals numerous alleged vendors. Some of these sellers promote fake drugs, including a product referred to as "Fauxzempic." Eric Feinberg, vice president of content moderation at Coalition for A Safer Web, highlighted key indicators of counterfeit drugs. He stated, "The first red flag to spot a counterfeit is when you see in the profile that it basically says 'No Rx.'" FDA-approved medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound are subject to strict regulations. These include inspections of manufacturing facilities and long-term safety studies, and they require a valid prescription. Feinberg emphasized, "You cannot get a prescription drug unless you have a prescription." He cautioned that offers for medications without a prescription, especially those that require payment through methods like bitcoin or Zelle, are likely not legitimate. Feinberg also noted that many counterfeit weight loss drugs are imported from other countries. When these illicit drugs arrive in the U.S., they often pass through major ports, where customs officials have seized illegal GLP-1 products due to suspicious packaging. Eric Zizelman, port director at U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Cincinnati, explained that some confiscated GLP-1 products have labels in Spanish, indicating they are not legitimate for sale in the U.S. He stated, "Something that's going to come into the U.S. as a legitimate product is not going to be in Spanish. It has to be in English." Zizelman described these drugs as "gray market drugs," which are made for non-U.S. markets and sold illegally in the U.S. He clarified, "Gray market are drugs that are typically made for a non-U.S. market and then imported here and sold here, so they're not approved to be sold inside the United States." Katherine Eban, an investigative health reporter, warned that once a drug deviates from its intended distribution route, its quality cannot be guaranteed. The report, titled "IMPACT x Nightline: The Dark Shot: Counterfeit Weight Loss Drugs," is currently available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+.