Monday 29th June 2026
By Bridlington Gold Radio Editor
Humberside Police issue warning about bogus online pharmacies targeting patients.
Humberside Police have issued a warning to residents after a new fraud involving bogus online pharmacies was uncovered. Criminals have set up fake websites claiming to sell prescription‑only medicines, using stolen NHS‑related details to appear legitimate.
NHS Humber Health Partnership says the fraudulent sites are designed to mislead patients into believing they are dealing with authorised medical providers. The scam has also been highlighted by the BBC, which reported concerns about criminals exploiting public trust in NHS branding to sell unsafe or counterfeit medicines.
Police are urging people to check whether any online pharmacy is properly registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) before purchasing medication. Legitimate pharmacies must appear on the official register, which can be searched at pharmacyregulation.org.
Reporting and Support
Anyone who has lost money or believes they have been targeted by this scam should call 101 and report it to Humberside Police. Further advice on fraud prevention is available at fraudwatch.org.uk, where residents can also sign up for future alerts. The full warning, along with downloadable leaflets, is available at fraudwatch.org.uk/2026/06/25/trigger-fraud-alert-42.