Fake Wegovy sellers in the UK: How to stay safe
Fake Wegovy sellers are becoming increasingly common in the UK, with the treatment being advertised on social media and even in beauty salons by unlicensed providers. Buying from an unregulated seller can be risky. You may not receive genuine medication, and you won’t always know what’s in your treatment, which could lead to severe side effects.
Read on to learn more about unregulated Wegovy sellers, how to spot them, and what to do if you’ve purchased fake Wegovy.
Key takeaways:
- Fake sellers of weight loss treatments are becoming more common both online and offline.
- Unregulated providers may supply fake treatments that could cause dangerous reactions.
- Always check that your provider is licensed and regulated by official bodies like the GPhC.
Types of fake Wegovy sellers
Sellers of fake Wegovy come in different shapes and sizes – but there are a few that are more common than others. You should always be wary if thinking of getting Wegovy from any of these types of sellers.
Social media sellers
People trying to sell any prescription medication through social media channels like Instagram, TikTok or Facebook are often unlicensed, or attempting to scam you.
These providers are often running bargain prices that are much lower than what legitimate pharmacies are charging. While this may not initially seem like a red flag, these prices are unfortunately too good to be true and often mean that you’re not buying the real thing.
You may also see ‘DIY kits’ that require you to combine a powdered substance with water before using it. Anything that requires you to combine medication is not licensed by the manufacturer or the MHRA, the regulatory body for medicine in the UK. All genuine Wegovy comes ready to use, with no assembly or mixing required.
If you’re asking yourself – is buying Wegovy on social media safe? Then the answers most likely no. It’s best to listen to the advice of the MHRA and only purchase from legitimate providers who are clearly licensed by the GPhC.
Spotting fake “weight loss jabs”
Here is an example image of a fake weight loss provider.
- Spelling errors – the title has misspelt the word “jabs”
- Course duration – the title says that this is for a 10-week kit, when pens only last four weeks
- Cost – this is suspiciously cheap for over two months of weight loss treatment
- Image – there are no images of the product on this listing, just lots of WhatsApp and Messenger “reviews”
Fake online pharmacies
Fake online pharmacies may seem safe or reputable at first glance but take a closer look and you may notice:
They don’t require a consultation or prescription:
- Weight loss medications require a prescription, as a doctor needs to make sure they’re safe and suitable for you – Wegovy sold without is likely to fake and possibly dangerous
- Recently an online criminal network was found to possess over 5,000 websites that were posing as fake online pharmacies and distributing counterfeit, contaminated or entirely fake medications
They’re not regulated or licensed:
- Fake pharmacies aren’t being checked by any pharmaceutical regulator such as the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). This means there’s no way of knowing that what you're receiving is safe and what you’ve asked for. These regulatory bodies are in place to make sure pharmacies provide the correct treatments, safely
- You should always check to see if an online pharmacy has recognition from regulators such as the GPhC and the MHRA
Beauty clinics and salons
You may have seen beauty clinics and salons offering Wegovy. While they may be licensed to administer injections of things like Botox, this is not the case with weight injections.
- Salon staff are not licensed to prescribe Wegovy in the UK
- They are not qualified to inject any weight loss treatment
- They do not have the necessary knowledge to safely monitor your progress on weight loss treatment
Purchasing from sellers like this has major safety risks, as there is concern as to where they are sourcing the treatment from and how it is being stored before being sold to you. Wegovy needs to be kept refrigerated, and there’s no guarantee it is by these providers.
Overseas sellers and imports
Some websites online import “Wegovy” from other countries into the UK for your use. This is very dangerous, as while the Wegovy you purchase in the UK has been checked and MHRA-approved, medicine coming from abroad has not.
Medication being shipped from outside of the UK from places like the USA, Brazil and Asia are often counterfeit and can be dangerous if used. It’s always important that you check the legitimacy of where you are purchasing your weight loss treatment from, and that it is a trusted and reputable source.
There is also no way to ensure that Wegovy ordered from abroad has maintained the correct temperature during shipping.
Where to buy Wegovy safely
You can buy Wegovy safely online from pharmacies like Chemist4U.
Just make sure to only ever purchase from a provider, that has been GPhC-registered and requires you to complete a consultation in advance.
You can tell if a pharmacist is licensed to prescribe in the UK by looking for their GPhC number, we’ve highlighted it in the image below, taken from the about us page from one of our pharmacists, Ayesha Bashir.
What to do if you suspect fake Wegovy
If you think that the Wegovy pen you’re using is fake, you should stop using it immediately and contact your doctor or pharmacist. You can then raise this with the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme to report counterfeit Wegovy.
This is a scheme run by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency which safeguards the quality of medication in the UK. As it may require an investigation - don’t throw anything away, even the packaging, as it may need to be used.
Doing this can help others avoid potential fake medication going forward.
FAQs
Is it safe to buy Wegovy from Instagram or TikTok?
No. You should only ever purchase prescription-only medication like Wegovy from trusted sellers that are GPhC-registered. Those selling through social media are likely scamming, and they may not contain the correct medication.
How do I know if my Wegovy pen is real?
You can check if your Wegovy pen is real by making sure it:
- Is made from high-quality material
- Does not have any spelling mistakes on the pen or packaging
- Does not have any physical deformities on the packaging
You should always check for the product license number on the packaging, you can check the authenticity on the MHRA website:
Can beauty clinics legally sell Wegovy?
No. Unless the clinic is GPhC-registered or employs a UK-licensed pharmacist then they cannot legally sell Wegovy.
What happens if I’ve injected a counterfeit dose?
If you think you’ve injected a fake Wegovy pen, stop using it and immediately contact your pharmacist or doctor. Don’t throw anything away, as you should report this to the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme and they will carry out a further investigation.
How Chemist4U keeps you safe
At Chemist4U, we keep you safe by being a GPhC-registered pharmacy, with UK-licensed prescribers. Not only that, but we are a trusted NHS healthcare provider and are regulated by the MHRA.
We’re a trusted provider of weight loss treatments, including medically approved options like Mounjaro and Wegovy, and will only prescribe after a consultation that has been reviewed by one of our prescribers. You can get to know our prescribers and see their own GPhC recognition here.
Sources
- MHRA warns of unsafe fake weight loss pens. GOV.UK / MHRA. [Accessed 27 August 2025]
- Medical Product Alert N°2/2024: Falsified OZEMPIC (semaglutide). World Health Organization. [Accessed 27 August 2025]
- Department warns the public on fake weight-loss medication. Department of Health Northern Ireland. [Accessed 27 August 2025]
- Novo Nordisk statement on falsified Ozempic pens. Novo Nordisk. [Accessed 27 August 2025]
- Pharmafraud: Fake online pharmacies and their risks. Avast Blog. [Accessed 27 August 2025]
- Yellow Card: Report a side effect or medical device incident. MHRA. [Accessed 27 August 2025]
