Scammers will use any opportunity to take advantage of a situation: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced an alarming health-related scam. Numerous counterfeit versions of Tamiflu were discovered being promoted and sold over the Internet and in some retail stores.  

With the recent flu season making many people sick, consumers are warned by the FDA to avoid purchasing fraudulent products. These products have not been tested by the FDA and are being sold with claims of preventing or treating and curing the flu.

"As any health threat emerges, fraudulent products appear almost overnight," said Gary Coody, the FDA's national health-fraud coordinator. "Right now, so-called 'alternatives' to the flu vaccine are big with scammers."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages people to get vaccinated once a year as a preventive measure. Consumers are urged to be careful online, as generic versions of Tamiflu are being sold by online so-called pharmacies. Tamiflu in generic form was never approved by the FDA, and warning letters were sent to the online companies.

The FDA sends warning letters to sellers of the fraudulent medications to make them aware that selling the products is a violation of federal law. Within 15 days, if the vendor does not cooperate with a response or by discontinuing the sales operation, the FDA may seize the product.

"If you buy one of these products, you don't know what you're getting — it could be counterfeit, contaminated or not stored properly to maintain quality. It could also have the wrong active ingredient or no active ingredient at all," said Coody on the FDA's blog.