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You have heard and read so much about people using slimming jabs to get slim, you feel it is time to give it a go ahead of the festive season. The problem is cost.

Yet it appears there are other options rather than getting a prescription and visiting the chemist. A text message comes through providing a URL to a website with much cheaper drugs – and with no necessity to go through proper procedures. You also noticed a similar ad on social media recently, so you decide to take the plunge.

The problem is these ads are almost certainly fraudulent schemes. In the best-case scenario, you'll receive nothing and lose whatever money you spent. In the worst, you receive a counterfeit item, with unknown ingredients that could lead to serious medical issues.

The popularity of authentic weight loss medications has led to a increase in fake goods entering circulation and scams established to simply take consumers' cash.

Health authorities have warned against buying such unlawful weight loss medicines without a prescription from beauty salons, fake pharmacy websites or through digital platforms, stating they could contain “harmful substances and additional components that could cause real harm”.

Recent statistics from a high street bank reveal a significant surge in the quantity of customers who have been impacted by the scam. According to the bank, the amount of money stolen through fraudulent activities related to weight loss injections, pens, pills and lipid-reducing solutions during the third quarter , was more than double the total sum lost in the prior quarter. Each incident typically costs victims £120, it says.

“Fraudsters are actively exploiting people’s insecurities and medical worries, with these scams soaring in recent months,” notes a financial institution's fraud prevention lead.

What it looks like

The majority take place on messaging apps and social networks. On socials, an account may imitate the company that you are looking for, but you'll often notice slight variations in text or logos.

These communications or updates will frequently use pressure-inducing language such as “limited-time offer”, “special promotion” or “complimentary gift”.

As the price of some legitimate weight loss jabs, has increased recently, the fraudsters will price their “item” more cheaply.

“Purchasing from unverified sellers online can entail a serious financial, medical and emotional cost,” warns the security specialist.

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As with all scams, the wise saying holds true: should something seem too good to be true, it likely isn't genuine.

Medical authorities have warned people to be highly vigilant when purchasing medications via the web. They should only be obtained from a registered pharmacy using a prescription issued by a healthcare professional, it says. When procured from other sources, they may pose significant dangers to wellbeing.

Criminals can expend considerable effort to make their site or online profile appear completely genuine. If they claim to be an internet-based chemist based in Great Britain, you can check the online portal of the medicines oversight organisation to ensure they are correctly licensed.