The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is investigating 14 cases of sale of fake or unlicensed COVID-19 medical products.
The agency says there has been an increasing number of bogus medical products being sold through unauthorised websites claiming to treat or prevent COVID-19. These products include self-testing kits, ‘miracle cures’, ‘antiviral misting sprays’, and unlicensed medicines.
The MHRA says the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau is also receiving reports from victims who have lost money when they have tried to purchase personal protective equipment or self-testing kits online from fraudulent websites.
The MHRA has already disabled nine domain names and social media accounts selling fake or unauthorised COVID-19 products.
Meanwhile, a separate MHRA investigation culminated led to a suspending prison sentence for a couple from Birmingham who were found to be selling breast cancer and erectile dysfunction medicines illegally online.
The sentencing on Friday, 3 April 2020 followed a three-year investigation by the MHRA into the illegal sale of medicines through their website.
One of the perpetrators was sentenced to 14 months in prison suspended for two years and 100 hours of community service. The other was sentenced to 44 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for two years and 100 hours of community service.
