Counterfeit prescriptions in the southern Harz: Up to 3,500 euros fraud with Lonsurf!

Counterfeit prescriptions in the southern Harz: Up to 3,500 euros fraud with Lonsurf!

Pharmacists in the Mansfeld-Südharz district are concerned about the growing threat of counterfeit prescriptions, especially for the cancer drug Lonsurf. Pharmacist Regina Stahlhacke described the counterfeits as extremely well made and warned of the increased number of such requests. As mz.de reports, several pharmacies have already received suspicious prescriptions and the police have confirmed that at least two fake prescriptions have been redeemed. The value of the medication distributed is around 3,500 euros.

The forgery scam is perfidious: the prescriptions contain different personal details, but use the same insurance numbers. This approach shows how organized the fraudsters are. AOK Nordost also warns of this danger and confirms that the counterfeits have appeared in various regions, including Berlin. Particularly suspicious are prescriptions with the diagnosis of “stomach cancer”, which are often written in layman’s language or where the dosages and doctor’s stamps are incorrect, as confirmed by apotheke-adhoc.de.

Increased workload for pharmacies

Counterfeits place a significant burden on pharmacies. Pharmacist Henry Schwabe noted that although fewer counterfeits were found regarding the Ozempic weight loss injection, the number of counterfeits on Lonsurf represents a heavy burden. The workload for pharmacists like Nancy Thieme from the Mohren-Apotheke in Eisleben has increased noticeably. To ensure that the prescriptions are genuine, pharmacists are asked to verify the existence of the doctor's office and the patient's registration. If suspicion arises, it is advised to inform the police and health insurance company immediately.

Healthcare Fraud

The problem of fraud in the healthcare sector is reaching alarming proportions. According to a report by the National Association of Health Insurance Companies (GKV), over 200 million euros in fraud were identified in 2022 and 2023, with the highest financial damage being recorded in the area of ​​medicines and dressings. As [rbb24.de].

Among other things, AOK Nordost has initiated active cooperation with law enforcement authorities to take action against this fraud. Solutions such as issuing e-prescriptions could counteract the problem. But despite these measures, criminal networks that use unsuspecting individuals as CEOs of shell companies remain a serious challenge in the fight against healthcare fraud.

Overall, the situation is serious and requires increased vigilance from both pharmacies and patients. Awareness and cooperation can be crucial to stopping this criminal scam.