Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is warning Georgians about the dangers of counterfeit prescription medications and illegal online pharmacies that may be selling unsafe drugs to unsuspecting consumers.

In a consumer alert issued Thursday, Carr said some websites advertise inexpensive prescription medicines but actually sell counterfeit, expired, unapproved or improperly stored products. These medications can contain incorrect ingredients, dangerous contaminants or potentially deadly substances such as fentanyl.

The warning covers a wide range of medications, including cancer treatments, everyday prescriptions, Botox and popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, approximately 95 percent of the estimated 35,000 online pharmacies operating worldwide are illegal, and fewer than four percent comply with U.S. laws and pharmacy standards. The figures are attributed to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and the Food and Drug Administration.

Carr is urging consumers to watch for warning signs, including websites that sell prescription drugs without requiring a valid prescription, offer unusually low prices, lack a verifiable U.S. address or licensed pharmacist, or are not properly licensed to serve Georgia customers.

Consumers can verify a pharmacy’s license through the Georgia Board of Pharmacy. The FDA also offers guidance through its BeSafeRx program, while the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy provides a free website-checking tool at safe.pharmacy.

Carr warned that fraudulent pharmacy websites may also steal customers’ personal and financial information.

Anyone who encounters a suspicious online pharmacy can report it to the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, the Federal Trade Commission or the FDA.

The Attorney General’s Office is reminding Georgians that prescription medications should be purchased only through trusted, properly licensed pharmacies.