Peptide Scams: Common Tactics
The unregulated peptide market attracts scammers. Below are the most common scam types, how to identify them, and protect yourself.
Common Peptide Scams
| Scam Type | How It Works | Red Flags | Frequency | Victim Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exit Scam | Vendor collects orders for 2-4 weeks, then disappears with money | New site, too-good prices, crypto only, no phone number | Common | $100-500+ per victim |
| Fake/Underdosed Product | Selling sugar powder or severely underdosed peptides as "real" | No COA, prices 50%+ below market, sketch website | Very Common | Product cost + wasted time |
| Fake COA | Photoshopped or altered certificates of analysis | Perfect purity scores, unverifiable lab, mismatched batch numbers | Common | You get bunk product |
| Bait and Switch | Advertise tested product, ship untested cheaper version | COA doesn't match batch, different labeling than website | Moderate | Overpay for inferior product |
| Phishing/Identity Theft | Fake site clones real vendor to steal payment info | Slightly misspelled domain, new site, identical to known vendor | Moderate | Financial fraud + identity theft |
| "Pharmacy Grade" Premium | Charge 2-3x for same product with meaningless marketing terms | "Pharma grade," "medical grade" with no actual certification | Very Common | Overpay 100-200% |
| Proprietary Blend Scam | Hide actual doses/ingredients, use cheap fillers | "Proprietary formula," won't disclose exact amounts | Common | Pay for filler, not active peptides |
| Expired/Degraded Stock | Sell old inventory that's lost potency | Clearance sales with no expiration dates, COA >18 months old | Moderate | Ineffective product |
| Customs Seizure "Reship" Scam | Claim package seized, ask for more money to reship (never shipped original) | International vendors with no tracking, repeated "seizures" | Less Common | Double payment for nothing |
| Fake "Doctor Recommended" | Claim medical endorsements that don't exist | "Recommended by doctors," testimonials from "Dr. Smith" | Common | Trust in unverified product |
| Subscription Trap | Hide recurring charges in fine print | Automatic monthly shipments without clear disclosure | Less Common | Unwanted recurring charges |
| Fake Domestic Source (International) | Claim US domestic but actually ship from China/India | Delayed shipping, no tracking, customs issues | Moderate | Seizure risk + delays |
Scam Detection Checklist
| Check This | Safe Indicator | Scam Indicator | How to Verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain Age | >1 year old | <6 months old | Use who.is domain lookup |
| Payment Methods | Credit card, established processors | Crypto only, gift cards only, Zelle only | Check payment page |
| Contact Info | Phone number, email, business address | Email only, no verifiable address | Try calling number, Google address |
| COA Availability | Posted publicly or immediately sent | None available, "coming soon," or requires large order first | Request before ordering |
| Testing Lab | Janoshik, Colmaric, other known labs | Unknown lab, generic "third-party," or none listed | Google the lab name |
| Pricing | Within 30% of market average | 50%+ below market or way above with no justification | Compare to 3+ established vendors |
| Website Quality | Professional, no medical claims, "research only" disclaimer | Medical claims, "cures," no disclaimer, stolen content | Read homepage and disclaimers |
| Community Feedback | Reviews on Reddit, forums (unaffiliated) | Only testimonials on own site, no independent reviews | Search "vendor name reddit" and "vendor name scam" |
| Batch Numbers | Match between vial label and COA | Generic COA, no batch #, or mismatched numbers | Compare when product arrives |
| Response Time | Answer within 24-48 hours | No response, defensive answers, pressure tactics | Send test email before ordering |
Price-Based Scam Indicators
| Peptide | Normal Range (5mg) | Scam Price (Too Low) | Scam Price (Too High) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BPC-157 | $28-48 | <$20 | >$70 (without unique justification) |
| TB-500 | $35-60 | <$25 | >$90 |
| Ipamorelin | $22-38 | <$15 | >$55 |
| CJC-1295 No DAC | $15-32 (2mg), $32-48 (5mg) | <$10 (2mg) | >$65 (5mg) |
| GHK-Cu | $38-58 (50mg) | <$25 | >$85 |
Common Scammer Tactics & Responses
| Scammer Claim | Your Response | Legitimate Vendor Response |
|---|---|---|
| "We test in-house, don't need third-party" | "I need independent verification. Can you provide that?" | Either provides third-party COA or admits they don't have it (move on) |
| "This sale ends tonight!" | Walk away - artificial urgency is a red flag | Legitimate vendors don't pressure; sales are regular and announced in advance |
| "Pay with Bitcoin for 20% discount" | Acceptable if also offer credit card; sus if crypto only | Offer crypto discount but also accept traceable payment methods |
| "COA available after you order" | "I need to see it before purchasing" | Send COA immediately upon request, no purchase required |
| "We're the same lab that supplies [famous clinic]" | "Can you prove that with documentation?" | Can't prove it (it's a lie) or deflects question |
| "99.9% purity guaranteed!" | "Show me the COA with that purity" | Either provides legit COA (rare to see 99.9%) or can't back up claim |
| "Don't trust those other sites, we're the real deal" | Red flag - legitimate vendors don't badmouth competition | Professional vendors focus on their own quality, not bashing others |
What to Do If You've Been Scammed
| Step | Action | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Payment Dispute | If credit card: file chargeback immediately. If crypto: you're likely SOL. | Within 60 days for CC |
| 2. Warn Community | Post on Reddit (r/Peptides), forums with evidence (order confirmations, emails) | ASAP to prevent others |
| 3. Report to Authorities | File FTC complaint (ftc.gov/complaint), IC3 for internet fraud | Within days |
| 4. Monitor Accounts | If you gave banking info, watch for unauthorized charges; consider freezing credit | Ongoing |
| 5. Document Everything | Screenshot website, emails, payment confirmations before site vanishes | Immediately |
Vendor Verification Process (Before First Order)
- Check domain age: Use who.is - must be >6 months old minimum
- Google vendor name + "scam" / "review" / "reddit" - see what comes up
- Request COA - legitimate vendors send within 24 hours, no purchase needed
- Verify testing lab exists - Google lab name, check if they have website/contact
- Try contacting vendor - send email with questions, gauge response quality/speed
- Compare pricing - check against 3+ established vendors; if 50%+ cheaper, investigate why
- Look for business entity - LLC, address, phone number should be listed
- Check payment methods - if ONLY crypto/gift cards/Zelle, walk away
- Read website carefully - medical claims = red flag; professional disclaimers = good sign
- Start small - even if everything checks out, first order should be minimal to test reliability
Trusted Community Resources for Vendor Vetting
| Resource | What to Look For | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Reddit r/Peptides | Search vendor name, read experiences (good and bad) | Some shill accounts exist; look for account history |
| Peptide Discord Servers | Real-time community feedback, vendor discussions | Smaller communities may have bias; cross-reference |
| PeptidesUK Forum | International perspective, detailed vendor logs | EU-focused; US vendor coverage limited |
| Generic Bodybuilding Forums | Search peptide vendor sections | Often outdated info; verify dates on posts |
The Ultimate Scam Avoidance Rule
If you can't verify the testing independently, don't order. Period.
Every excuse for why they "can't" provide a COA is a reason to walk away. Legitimate vendors want you to verify quality - it's their competitive advantage. Scammers avoid verification because they're selling garbage.
Related Pages
- Vendor Red Flags Checklist
- TB-500 Vendor Comparison
- Best Value Peptides
- Import Laws by Country
- Legal Status by State