We have developed this handbook Vademecum against scams on generic drugs and original drugs sold by online pharmacies, hopefully the most clearly possible and useful for all.

 The ground rules are few and we do hope they can help you make purchases from online pharmacies more aware and safer:

 1) Never click on links in emails that often dozens, arrive there every day and touting this or that special occasion, this or that miracle product: links sent via email are the most dangerous and often lead only to a poor product or to a real stolen credit card data.

Generally it is not about online pharmacy sites, but sites with fake pharmacies, which have as a main purpose to attract you with low prices, then lead you to make a purchase. The credit card information once provided is not for the purchase, but will quickly be in a fake credit card that will be used to empty your bank account.

 2) Look for online pharmacies on Google or on sites, write the drug as keywords you are looking for plus the terms "online" or "internet" (for example, "viagra", "cialis online", "buy cialis online" or "cialis on the internet" or " safe online pharmacy") and examine the sites that are outside.

Or better do more research and look for sites that appear frequently in various researches.

Fraudulent sites often are born and die in a few days so they do not even have time to appear on Google. If you see a site many times on Google, it means that the site has been long enough on the network, and is less likely to be fraudulent.

As an alternative to Google, you can also search for the sites in many forums where there are reviews of online pharmacies.

 3) Verify the use of safe transactions when you are filling in the form of purchasing from an online pharmacy. The use of secure transaction on the one hand means that it has been issued a certificate of identity for that site, and that there was an owner who has documented his physical existence and identity, and on the other hand the techniques that prevent transmission of personal data that can be intercepted.

It's easy to understand if the page is a secure transaction or not: in the address bar, the address of the site must not begin with http://, but with https: / /, with the "s". So when you're on a page where you enter your name or credit card information, look up and read the address of the page.

 4) Verify the existence of a phone number which you can contact, or at least a help line, a "Live Support" where those involved in the online pharmacy can answer any of your questions.

5) Verify the existence of a version in English (well written) of the site's online pharmacy. Beware of sites written in sloppy English, garbled words, plural and singular mixed up, that sentences are not translated correctly, but with an obvious transpositions English machine translation program, type "google translator".

A real translation of a site costs, and the crooks are never going to invest money in this. Then search the pages of the site and read them in English. Never mind that it is translated throughout the site, the important thing is that some pages are translated (especially the page "Terms of sale" and "FAQ") and that the translation is accurate.

6) Verify the existence of scam documents doing searches on Google. You should check the domain name of the site, accompanied by words like "fraud" (to search for documentation of fraud) or "spam" (to check if the site makes spam).

You can also search for the domain in this list:

http://www. joewein. de / sw / blacklist. htm # BL: if it is present there this means it's a spam and therefore it's probably a fraudulent website.

7) Check for safe certifications. They are usually represented in every page of the site and report the exact date and time (in the time zone of the site).

Moreover, making click on the page, there must open a window, you should check if the address shown has the https: / / with the "s" and that in the same window, is declaring that the security certificate was issued to the same domain of online pharmacy you are visiting.

8) Check the acceptance of many credit cards. In particular, in addition to Visa, which is present on all sites, there should be present at least one more credit card. For example, the payments via MasterCard or American Express are much more strict and selective and the sites that offer these payment methods have had a documented history of economic and trade without shadows.

9) Do not choose the online pharmacy that promises much lower prices than average. The low prices of medicines are sometimes synonymous with setbacks. In buying generics or original medicines from the internet it's not necessary to seek the lowest prices of all, wanting the best savings.

The seriousness of an online pharmacy is much more important than the last euro saved. The exceptional offer "one day offer" is sitting there for months, and it is almost always a scam. Nobody will give you medications; everyone is working for their own interest, so beware of those who give you "too much".

10) Do not choose new or miraculous or alternative "natural" undocumented. With all respect for natural medicine, which is at the base of medicine and that offers many resources still valid, distrust such promises as "natural Viagra", "the elixir of love", "the Amazon Viagra "who are often just the manifestation of the imagination of those who invented these definitions.

So, no fear, no panic, buying on the Internet is safe and is a viable alternative to save. In the case of generic or original medicines, as in all cases where you spend money online, you must be always attentive, not to be fooled by miraculous offers, always good to check the identity and reliability of the site's online pharmacy when you buy.

Remember always to talk first with your doctor before taking any medication.