GLP-1 Misinformation Quiz: Can You Spot the Fake Offer?

This GLP-1 misinformation quiz tests the skill that matters most online: telling a trustworthy source or offer from a convincing fake. Ten scenarios, each one built from the kinds of badges, vials, pharmacies and sponsored posts that regulators have actually warned about. Pick the best move, then open the answer to see what the FDA or FTC says.

How to play

Choose A, B or C for each scenario. One point per correct answer.

1. A site selling semaglutide shows a gold badge: "FDA Registered Facility." What does that tell you?

A) The product is FDA-approved B) Not much. Registration isn't approval C) The site is a licensed pharmacy

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B. Federal rules say registering a facility or listing a drug "does not denote approval" of the facility or the drug. Any claim that creates an impression of official approval because of registration is treated as misleading and misbranding. A gold badge is a design choice, not a regulatory status.

2. The same site proudly lists an NDC number for its product. Better?

A) Yes, an NDC means FDA checked it B) No, an NDC doesn't mean approval either C) Only if the number has 11 digits

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B. The same regulation says being in FDA's drug database or being assigned an NDC does not mean a drug is approved or legal to market. Presenting the code as proof of approval is also misbranding.

3. A shop sells vials of "retatrutide" labeled "for research use only, not for human consumption," with a handy dosing chart for humans. What's going on?

A) A clever legal loophole for early access B) A product FDA has warned consumers not to buy C) A clinical trial you can join from home

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B. FDA has warned companies selling semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide and similar products labeled "for research purposes" while marketing them to consumers with dosing instructions. The agency says their quality is unknown and urges people not to buy them. Retatrutide isn't approved for any use. The label says "not for humans" and the chart says "for humans," and both can't be true. More in our research-use-only explainer.

4. A telehealth ad says its compounded semaglutide is "the FDA-approved generic of Wegovy." True?

A) True, compounded means generic B) False, compounded drugs are not FDA-approved C) True, if it's made in the US

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B. FDA says compounded drugs are not FDA-approved: the agency doesn't review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they're sold. FDA also says salt forms like semaglutide sodium or semaglutide acetate are different active ingredients from the approved drugs, and it knows of no lawful basis for compounding with them. If an ad says "approved generic" about a compounded product, the ad is the problem.

5. An online pharmacy offers Zepbound with "no prescription needed," ships from overseas, and lists only a contact form. Your move?

A) Order a small amount to test it B) Walk away. These are classic unsafe-pharmacy signs C) Ask in the comments whether it's legit

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B. FDA's consumer guidance lists the signs of a safe online pharmacy. It requires a prescription, it's licensed by your state board of pharmacy, it has a US physical address and phone number, and a licensed pharmacist is available to answer questions. FDA's red flags include no prescription required, no US or state license, and discounts that look too good to be true. Our step-by-step guide shows how to check a pharmacy's license.

6. You read that counterfeit Ozempic pens were found in the regular US supply chain. What's the reasonable takeaway?

A) Only shady websites ever sell counterfeits B) Check FDA's alert details and ask your pharmacist if anything looks off C) Stop your medicine immediately, just in case

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B. FDA has issued several counterfeit Ozempic alerts. The most recent, in December 2025, involved pens labeled with lot PAR1229, which is also a real lot number. The fakes could be spotted by where the "EXP/LOT" text was placed. Earlier alerts covered lots NAR0074 (December 2023) and PAR0362 (April 2025). Alerts name specific details, so compare your pen with the alert and call your pharmacist with questions. Don't make treatment changes on your own; talk to your prescriber.

7. A supplement calls itself "nature's Ozempic" and says it "treats obesity." What should make you pause?

A) Nothing, supplements are FDA-approved before sale B) Supplements aren't FDA-approved before sale, and "treats a disease" is a drug claim C) The word "nature," because natural is always weaker

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B. FDA says it does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements before they're marketed. A product promoted to treat or cure a disease meets the definition of a drug. Supplements can make "structure/function" claims, and those must carry a disclaimer that FDA hasn't evaluated them.

8. A creator posts glowing GLP-1 clinic content with a discount code and the tag "#collab." Is that a clear disclosure?

A) Yes, everyone knows what collab means B) No. The FTC says vague tags like "collab" or "ambassador" alone aren't enough C) Only if the code works

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B. The FTC's guidance for influencers says to use clear terms like "ad," "advertisement" or "sponsored," placed where they're hard to miss. In videos, the disclosure should be both on screen and spoken. The FTC also says creators shouldn't make claims that need proof they don't have, like claims about treating a health condition. More in evaluating an influencer's sponsorship disclosure.

9. A screenshot says "New study: GLP-1s reverse aging." No link, no journal, no author. Best next step?

A) Share it, a screenshot is basically a citation B) Search for the original paper on PubMed or ClinicalTrials.gov before believing it C) Assume it's fake because it's good news

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B. Neither belief nor dismissal. Find the source. If you can't find a paper, a trial registration or an agency statement, the claim isn't verified yet, no matter how crisp the font is.

10. A post says: "FDA has 990 adverse event reports for compounded semaglutide, so it injured 990 people." What's off?

A) Nothing, a report is proof B) Reports don't prove the drug caused each event, and they're also likely an undercount C) The number must be made up

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B. The number is real. FDA reported 990 adverse event reports for compounded semaglutide and more than 730 for compounded tirzepatide, as of May 31, 2026. FDA itself notes that underreporting is likely and that causation isn't always clear. Both halves of that sentence matter: the count isn't 990 proven injuries, and it isn't the full picture either. See why a report isn't proof.

Your score

9–10: Scam-proof. You could run a fact-check desk. 6–8: Solid instincts. The official-looking badges got you once or twice, as designed. 3–5: You're the target audience for these fakes, which is exactly why this quiz exists. 0–2: No shame. Start with GLP-1 red flags on social media and retake it next week.

The five-second checklist for any GLP-1 offer

If you see…	Ask…
"FDA registered," "FDA inspected," an NDC	Is it actually FDA-approved? Check the label on DailyMed or Drugs@FDA
"Research use only"	Why does it come with human dosing instructions?
"No prescription needed"	Is it licensed in my state? Is there a US pharmacist?
"Same as Wegovy/Zepbound"	Is this the approved product or a compounded one?
"#collab," "#partner"	Who's paying for this post?

Already on treatment? Note the brand, strength and lot number of each new box, and ask your pharmacist if anything looks different. A shot log like GLPily's can keep that next to the date.

Common questions

What's the difference between "FDA approved" and "FDA registered"?

Approval means FDA reviewed evidence that a specific drug is safe and effective for its use. Registration means a facility told FDA it exists and what it makes. Federal rules say registration doesn't denote approval, and implying otherwise is misbranding.

How do I report a suspicious GLP-1 website or product?

FDA asks people to report suspicious online pharmacies at contact.fda.gov/report-problem, and to report side effects through MedWatch. If you think you've had a reaction, call your prescriber. For an emergency, call 911. For a possible overdose, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Are all compounded GLP-1 drugs fake?

No. Compounding is a real, regulated practice. But compounded drugs aren't FDA-approved, and FDA has raised specific concerns about salt forms, dosing errors and quality. "Compounded" and "approved" are different things, and an honest seller won't blur them.