7/06/2010 - Ten ways to avoid purchasing fakes when you buy via the Internet

Remember - if you do not become suspicious and will not be guided by the suggested tips, you will have a lot of chances to buy a fake via the Internet

Internet is filled with charlatans trying to sell fakes. Therefore, to make your online shopping are safe, use the following practical advice.

Internet commerce is rampant. According to consulting company "JupiterResearch", about 50 percent of Americans bought something over the Internet last year. Unfortunately, at least 10 percent of these buyers were deceived. Instead of buying these, as they thought they bought counterfeit goods.

Counterfeiting of all kinds and types are widely distributed in the network. June 21 jewelry company "Tiffany & Co." filed a lawsuit against the auction site "eBay", arguing that 73 percent of jewelry "Tiffany", sold through the site are fakes. June 17 Main Accounting Office issued a U.S. report which says that 6 percent, or 4 out of 68 drugs purchased by investigators in the U.S. and foreign online pharmacies, were fakes. "Volumes of counterfeit, and therefore, they cause serious consequences grow," - said the head of the online pharmacy "Drugstore.com" Nyupert Peter (Peter Neupert). In part, he blames this increase in the cost of health services, reflected in the double digits annually, which encourages patients to seek cheaper drugs.

Detect fraud when buying over the Internet in general is a problem. You can not hold the thing in his hands, as in a regular store. You can not look at the seller or his shop to assess the extent of their legitimate trade. However, the provision of Internet buyers are not hopeless. They can take many measures to protect yourself from fraud scam. To help you in this magazine "BusinessWeek" offers you ten expert tips on how to avoid purchasing fakes when you buy over the Internet.

• 1. If the price seems too good to be true, it is likely the way it is. Bag of "Louis Vuitton" can not cost $ 20 (rather, it is worth $ 200). Sale - a sure sign of danger.
• 2. Whenever possible, use the services of trusted online stores. Analyst, "JupiterResearch" Monica Levy (Monique Levy) recommends that you search the internet real shops. In this case, she notes, will be personally return the dubious thing in the store. In this case, as will be someone to complain or who to ask questions.
• 3. If you had previously chosen to deal with an online store, I always first pay attention to how decorated his site. If it looks unprofessional if it can not see the conditions of return purchases, or no actual address of the seller, it is a cause for concern. Also, before you buy, make sure the site is listed phone company, and that this number works.
• 4. Pay attention to the existence of a certificate. Trustworthy online pharmacy, for example, will certainly have a certificate of the National Association of Pharmacy (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy), which means that the data conn pharmacy is under the control of the Association. Just an online store may have a certificate certifying that he has a good track record.
• 5. Do not buy drugs without a prescription from your doctor. If the site you suggest to buy medicine without prescription, and you know exactly what this medicine without a prescription is not for sale, it's likely the proposal is illegal, says "Drugstore.com". Counterfeit medicines are generally harmless, as often pills are made from rice flour. But they will not help. There is another reason to buy drugs, prescription, you must visit the doctor: for example, despite the huge number of offers to buy Viagra over the Internet should be aware that erectile dysfunction may actually mean serious health problems.
• 6. Do not be afraid of everything to ask the seller, as you would have done it in stores. Shoppers Online auctions have the right to know how long the seller owned the thing and how it got to him. When buying expensive items such as jewelry, you should ask the seller a copy of the assessment instrument. In respectable merchants, he will certainly be on hand.
• 7. Buying expensive things, assume more expensive $ 500, you can use to pay for the escrow account (which will be your means until you do not deliver the goods, and until you are sure that this is the item you ordered, and did not make that the product is genuine). The site "Escrow.com" is the only site where you can put money on the depositor, approved auction "eBay". Paid commission is usually less than 6 percent of the cost of goods and divided equally between the buyer and seller.
• 8. Prepare to purchase in advance. Learn all the characteristic features of the thing that you will acquire.
• 9. Do not trust the "certificate of authenticity." Too many of those who buy autographs through the Internet (more than 90 percent of whom are most likely fake), feel more secure if their purchase is such a certificate. But the problem is that these certificates are also fakes.
• 10. Check the seller's rating. These online auctions, such as, "eBay", post information about the seller's rating and comments of people who have had dealings with him in the past. A large number of disgruntled reviews is a major cause for the refusal from the purchase. With regard to other sellers, you can search the internet site name or company and see if comments of dissatisfied clients or customers.
• Remember - if you do not become suspicious and will not follow the above tips, you will have a lot of chances to buy a fake over the internet.

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What medicines can be bought without a prescription?

Without a prescription can only be bought OTC medicines (BLP). Taking them, people get rid of diseases, not visiting a doctor treating the symptoms of irritation. But, nevertheless, active self with the help of OTC drugs, requires a great deal of responsibility and common sense.

The main requirements of the World Health Organization to the BLP are: recognition of the drug must be included in the home first aid kit, often used in medical practice and has no toxic effect on the human body.

Without the effects of BLP can be used in such cases: disorder, gastrointestinal (heartburn, variance, belching), cold (ARI), pain, lack of vitamins, allergies (itching, food allergy, rhinitis, rash), skin injury, lung diseases herpes, lice, dandruff).

All OTC medications can be freely bought in any drugstore. No need to go to the doctor, get a recipe, just went out and bought. This is a good way to improve your health without the hassle. But sometimes the opposite. By and large, BLP completely harmless, only if properly receive and follow the instructions to the drug package insert.

In large pharmacies sold about 100 thousand different drugs, which can be purchased without a prescription. There is not difficult and confused. The main thing in this situation, strictly abide by simple rules. Before buying a need to study the instructions. Strictly treat only the symptoms that we have. Pay attention to the compatibility of the drug with other drugs and foods. You should not exceed the dose on the package. If you have any questions, consult with a pharmacist. And be very careful, because the drugs can not only help but also hurt the already failing health.

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Buying drugs online

Buying drugs on the Internet - it's pretty convenient, moreover, no one knows what you buy. However, beware of scams.

In the U.S., more and more popular is buying drugs over the Internet. The buyer, instead of having to go to the nearest pharmacy, with a few clicks of the mouse gets you access to hundreds of sites that sell prescription drugs and other medical facilities.

Many participants in this business does offer a convenient, hidden from prying eyes and, most importantly, reliable way to purchase prescription drugs. And in most cases, buyers may use the services of these websites with the same share of trust, as in the case of buying an ordinary drugstore nearby. Participants in such electronic commerce can be as well-known network of pharmacies, pharmacy and small shops that enhance the way the list of its services for local customers.

However, buyers should be more cautious when referring to companies selling long banned in the real world services and medicines. So-called "sites-crooks" do or selling illegal drugs, or the sale of permitted drugs, do not follow all the requirements for the procedure sale of such drugs. For example, some companies offer to buy the drug buyers fill out a short form only, depriving them, so opportunities to talk one-on-one meeting with a professional doctor.

According to Jeffrey Shuren, Dr. of Medicine, Department of Planning and legislative regulation of the Office of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), «This practice leaves the buyer alone with the medicine purchased, depriving him of the possibility to obtain objective advice on taking the drug, derived from professional medic. The buyer, therefore, takes the medication at your own risk. Internet allows you to forget about such trivialities. "

Such a situation can cause many problems, such as the harmful interaction of various drugs, as well as the poisoning of the body when using expired or fake drugs. According to Dr. Shuren, "Web sites that offer a particular medicine based on the filling of a small customer surveys can deliver customers to further health problems. The patient is at risk to buy an entirely different medication and forever lose the opportunity to improve their health, not having received competent and authoritative advice from doctors about their diagnosis and contraindications.

So far, FDA has received only a few reports of adverse events associated with the sale of drugs over the Internet, but the nature of such cases suggests the potential risks associated with the purchase of the drug based only on a small questionnaire. For example, a 52-year-old resident of Illinois died from a heart attack after taking Viagra. He had recurrent pain in the chest, besides his parents suffered from heart disease. The case occurred in March of this year. Purchase was made after completing only a small questionnaire on one of the Internet sites. And although the cause of death of a man linked to the use of Viagra is not possible, FDA contends that traditional communication with the patient's doctor, combined with the conduct of medical tests might have revealed problems with the cardiovascular system of the man, who would assign the necessary treatment.

FDA inspects Intrenet huge amount of sites that sell drugs, and allegedly violating the law. Management intends to initiate the procedure against violators under the law. FDA has made a bid to check the Internet resources, focusing on the emergence of new, not yet approved, drugs, fraud in the provision of medical services to the facts of the sale of prescription drugs without due process of diagnosis.