The paperwork
- No certificate of analysis, or one you only get after paying.
- Certificates with no lot number, or the same one reused for every batch.
- A testing lab you can't identify or contact. See reading a certificate of analysis.
The claims
- The seller labels products “research use only” but also describes what they do in people, or explains how to use them. The seller is contradicting its own label. In a 2026 warning letter to a peptide seller, the FDA said that despite “research use only” and “not for human consumption” statements, the evidence, including claims about what products do, showed the products were intended as drugs for human use.[3]
- Guarantees about results of any kind.
- Reviews or testimonials about personal results. See reviews you can't take at face value.
The business
- No company name, business address or way to get in touch other than a chat app.
- Payment accepted only by cryptocurrency, wire transfer or gift card. The FTC says scammers often insist on these payment methods, and advises never paying anyone who does.[1]
- Pressure to buy right now, such as countdown timers or “today only” deals that never end.
Look them up
The FDA publishes the warning letters it sends to companies, in a database you can search by company name.[2] It's worth a search before you deal with a seller for the first time.
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice. How to avoid a scam.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Warning letters.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Warning letter to Wholesale Peptide, 17 June 2026 (ref. 729447), footnote 1.