If you get a call inviting you to buy cheap prescription drugs, think twice. The Food and Drug Administration issued a press release last November warning about a new phone scam in which a "salesperson" would offer discounted medicines and then ask the customer to wire money to the Dominican Republic.

The drugs are never delivered.

But the fraud does not end here.

After the order is placed, the customer would get another call from a fake “FDA special agent." The impersonator explains the customer has broken the law and could face criminal charges. The only option to make the whole thing go away, he would say, is by paying a fine of several thousand dollars. The money, once again, must be sent to the Dominican Republic.

"The public should note that no FDA official will ever contact a consumer by phone demanding money or any other form of payment. FDA officials always present identification in person when conducting official business," said Michael Chappell, the FDA's acting associate commissioner for regulatory.

This is just one of the many scams involving online pharmacies. Share your experiences with us. Have you ever bought drugs coming from another country? Do you know of similar scams? How can they be avoided?


-- Ana E. Azpurua