In these cost conscience times, consumers are searching for ways to make their money go further. Sky rocketing costs for everything from food to medical care as many people seeking ways to cut the cost of their needed medications. In recent years, the world has seen an expanding booming industry for online pharmacies. Yet, unfortunately up to 50 to 90 percent of prescription medications sold though unregulated websites could be counterfeit putting patients lives at risk. Here's how to protect yourself from fake online pharmacies.

Several fake pharmacies initiate contact with patients via email contact while fraudulently using contact email techniques such as the deliberate misspelling of words and bad grammar to bypass internet service provider spam filtering systems.

Fake pharmacies sell prescription medications without a prescription while also forgoing needed medical patient consultation. Many fraudulent online pharmacies do not provide any contact details such as phone numbers or addresses.

Real online pharmacies operate in the same fashion as their bricks and mortar counterparts. Customers are required to have a physician's prescription and there are full contact details available. The prices for medications are clear and fair with medical consultations that are done with a licensed pharmacist.

Regulating bodies provide licensing numbers to online and retail pharmacies, consumers should check the website's license thoroughly. These regulated pharmacies will provide refunds if a product is damaged, does not arrive or is not what the patient ordered. Most fake pharmacies will have an ‘all sales final' policy toward their medications and should be avoided.

Consumers can also check that the pharmacies have the pharmacy checker seal which is an independent credentialing agency that checks the credentials of online pharmacies and lets consumers easily compare drug prices.

Many fake pharmacies don't have needed secure padlock protection on their sites, but real pharmacies do to protect their consumers from identity theft. As with all online transactions, consumers need to stay diligent and vigilant for possible identity theft from online pharmacy purchases by checking their receipt carefully if purchasing their medications by credit card. Patients can also request the actual pharmacist who provides their medication provide their own confirmation of their education and pharmacy credentials.

Another way that consumers can protect themselves from falling victim to fake pharmacies is to ask their physician for a recommendation for a secure online pharmacy to use. Vigilance coupled with common sense can make the experience of purchasing medications online a positive experience to be enjoyed again and again.

Like a smoker, drinker or glutton, we are doing it all to ourselves. Why should taxes pay for someone's choice to smoke or drink? We are drugging America to death as we ignore personal responsibility and the media sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies, makes health practitioners who encourage supplements to look like quacks as SWAT teams destroy their offices.

A person who is in need for medication can always talk to his or her doctor about the cost. Some doctors may give sample medications if it is for a short-term dosage. Depending on the type of symptoms a person may be having, the doctor may be able to advise to other alternatives. Some doctors can even write a prescription for a generic brand if the brand name prescription might be too expensive.