Because of the rising costs of some prescription drugs, Jessie Schmidt of the Better Business Bureau in Sioux Falls says senior citizens are going online to look for cheaper drugs.

"Seniors are so vulnerable when it comes to this sort of thing. A lot of them oftentimes are on a lot of prescriptions and they are expensive depending on what plans they're on. They are looking for anywhere to find the pills a little less expensive."

Unfortunately, Schmidt says some online pharmacies aren't legitimate.

"There are some great online pharmacies. They will ask for a prescription and may want to talk to your doctor's office. Then there are these fly by night organizations that may not send you the medication that you need. You are now really in trouble. It's the same adage---if things are too good to be true, they are really  too good to be true."

This scam is growing in popularity. Since 2000, the Food and Drug Administration has investigated an average of 20 such cases per year, up from five per year in the 1990's, according to the National Council on Aging.

 

 

 

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