Consumer advice

GLP-1 medicines such as Semaglutide (sold under the brands Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus), Tirzepatide (sold under the brand Mounjaro) and Liraglutide (sold under various brands) are licensed to treat certain medical disorders and should only be used if you are overweight or diabetic. They should not be used as a way to lose weight for aesthetic or cosmetic purposes. 

Counterfeit and concentrated powder forms of the medicines have been found on sale and there have been incidences of severe side effects. You should therefore not buy from unregulated sellers, such as beauty salons or on social media. 

The only way to make sure that you receive a genuine GLP-1 medicine is to obtain it from a legitimate high street or online pharmacy, with a prescription issued by a healthcare professional.

Further information

To find out more about buying medication safely online visit the government's FakeMeds web page.  

You can report suspicious websites or products to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency through its Yellow Card scheme.

You can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service if you are unhappy with the service you have received, for example the outcome of the claim or fee charged by the claims management company.  

You can complain to the Financial Conduct Authority if the company you have used:

• is not on the financial services register
• has broken conduct rules; or 
• has sent or made unsolicited texts or calls

Always check their Financial Services Register before using any claims management company and be aware that you can make a claim yourself at no cost. 

The Money Helper website explains how to go about getting compensation if you have been mis-sold car finance.
 

Undisclosed adverts would probably breach consumer protection law. 

You can approach the Advertising Standards Authority as a first step. Complaints can be made on the Advertising Standards website.

If you are a content creator you can find guidance about social media endorsements on the government website. 

Do not be tempted to do business with anyone that calls on your door unannounced telling you that work is necessary. Always deal with locally recognised traders who you can find and go back to if a problem arises.

Ask for references and the names and addresses of other customers with whom you can check that the work was carried out in a satisfactory manner. Do not be tempted by deals offering to do the job for cash avoiding any VAT or paperwork. Reputable tradesmen will provide paperwork, put all income through their books and generally do not need to call door to door to find work.

Trading Standards operates an approved trader scheme through Trustmark.