The TGA has asked Australians to be wary of businesses claiming to sell the prescription appetite suppressant injection online,amid reports of consumers both paying for the drug and never receiving the product,as well as receiving drugs which are not semaglutide.
A Google search for “buy Ozempic Australia” last week returned several sponsored results,including online stores claiming to sell the drug without prescription through bank transfer or credit card payment.
It is illegal to advertise a prescription drug in Australia.
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After being alerted to the presence of the ads,a Google spokesperson confirmed they were removed.
“Google has strict policies that govern the kind of ads that we allow on our platform. When we find ads that violate our policies,we remove them,” the spokesperson said
Although the regulator said it could not comment on ongoing investigations that may result in compliance action,it confirmed it was “working with” several digital platforms including TikTok,Instagram,Facebook,eBay,Amazon and Gumtree,as well as Google and other search engines,to remove unlawful advertising and crack down on scams.