Any American with a television has no doubt seen the tantalising offers from online pharmacies advertising GLP-1s and other weight-loss medications at bargain prices. But beneath these seemingly too-good-to-be-true deals lies a murky world of fraudulent practices.

The business is booming, with 11% of Americans prescribed drugs through online telehealth services, and the market projected to grow by 24% annually. Some foresee it reaching $150 billion in five years. Yet as the sector expands, so do reports of misleading advertising, hidden fees, and outright scams.

I was one such victim when I signed up for a service called FitRx—also known as Zealthy Inc.—to get compounded Zepbound at what seemed like a steal. Seven hours later, my credit card had been charged $866 for three months’ worth of medication I hadn’t requested and wasn't even insurable. Attempting to cancel or return the goods proved futile; customer service was non-responsive, and FedEx couldn’t intervene.

Shane Albert’s experience mirrored mine. He signed up for Zealthy, impressed by the consistent pricing for tirzepatide. However, his second dose came at a higher price, with delivery delays causing him to regain weight. Frustration mounted as calls went unanswered and complaints unheeded.

Nicole Butler’s story is equally harrowing. A melted cooler left her Zepbound in the sun, rendering it useless. She faced the same roadblocks when trying to secure a refund or halt future charges. The experience was so frustrating that she had to change her credit card and eventually file complaints with JAMS.