VENDOR RED FLAGS TO AVOID

Peptide Vendor Red Flags Checklist - Avoid Scams

Peptide Vendor Red Flags Checklist

The peptide market attracts bad actors due to minimal regulation and high margins. Below is a systematic checklist of red flags organized by severity. One critical red flag is enough to walk away. Multiple moderate flags should raise serious concerns.

Critical Red Flags (Walk Away Immediately)

Red Flag Why It Matters Common Excuses Reality
No COA available at all Zero quality verification "We test internally" Untested or deliberately hiding bad results
Medical claims on website Illegal; shows disregard for law "We're just sharing research" Will draw FDA attention; site may disappear
Accept only crypto/gift cards Avoiding paper trail "Privacy protection" Exit scam likely; no recourse for fraud
No business address/entity Can't be held accountable "Privacy concerns" Untraceable if they scam you
Fake/altered COAs Deliberate fraud N/A Criminal behavior; products likely contaminated
Too-good pricing (50%+ below market) Likely underdosed or fake "Direct from manufacturer" Economics don't work at those margins
Website <6 months old Hit-and-run operation "New to the market" Will vanish after collecting orders

Moderate Red Flags (Proceed with Caution)

Red Flag Concern Level What to Verify Acceptable If...
COA on request only (not posted) Medium Request and verify lab is real Quickly provided with batch numbers matching
Generic COA (no batch specifics) Medium Ask for batch-specific testing Can provide batch-matched COAs upon request
Unknown testing lab Medium-High Google lab; check if legitimate Lab exists, responds to verification requests
Inconsistent pricing (wild fluctuations) Medium Check if clearance/sale or norm Legitimate sales cycles with explanation
Limited payment methods Low-Medium Understand why (credit processing issues) Uses Zelle/bank transfer with good track record
Minimal web presence/reviews Medium Search forums, ask community New but verified by trusted community members
Vague sourcing claims Medium Ask specific questions about origin Provides reasonable sourcing info when asked
Frequent stock outages Low-Medium Check if pattern or isolated Occasional shortages, transparent about delays

Minor Yellow Flags (Monitor, Not Disqualifying)

Yellow Flag Why It's Minor What to Watch
Premium pricing (20-30% above market) May reflect better service/testing Verify claimed advantages actually exist
Slow shipping (5-7 days standard) Legitimate business model choice Make sure it's disclosed upfront
Limited product selection Specialization can be good Check if they excel in their niche
Basic website design Not all vendors are web developers Focus on substance over style
Customer service delays (24-48hr) Small operations have limits Ensure they do respond eventually
Minimum order requirements Common business practice Check if requirement is reasonable ($50-150)

Testing Red Flags: COA Specific

COA Issue What It Means How to Spot It Severity
No batch number on COA Can't verify your product was tested Check if batch # matches vial label High
Testing date >12 months old Could be old stock or one-time test Check date on COA vs purchase date Medium
Perfect purity scores (99.9%+) Unrealistic; possibly fabricated Compare to known peptide testing norms High (if consistent)
Missing lab contact info Can't verify authenticity Try to contact lab directly High
Only purity tested (no endotoxin/sterility) Incomplete safety profile Look for multi-parameter testing Medium (purity is priority)
Watermark obscures data Possible alteration hiding Request unwatermarked version Medium-High
Different product name on COA Testing different product entirely Compare peptide names/sequences Critical

Communication Red Flags

Behavior Red Flag Indicator Example
Defensive when asked for COA Hiding something "Don't you trust us?" instead of sending COA
Medical advice given Illegal, unprofessional "This will cure your injury" or dosing guidance
Pressure tactics Scam behavior "Sale ends tonight" with artificial urgency
Refusal to answer specific questions Lack of knowledge or hiding info Won't specify testing lab or sourcing
Overpromising results Marketing > reality "Guaranteed to work" claims

Verification Checklist Before First Order

Known Testing Labs (Legitimate)

Lab Name Location Reputation Verification Method
Janoshik Analytical Czech Republic Gold standard in community Website, email verification available
Colmaric Analyticals UK Widely trusted Website, direct contact possible
ChemTox Lab USA Legitimate, less common Verifiable business entity
Lab4Tox Germany Emerging, credible Website and LinkedIn presence

Related Pages

External References