Buying over the counter drugs online may be hazardous to health

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- For many taking over the counter medications, paying less online seems like a great deal, but buying those drugs could be dangerous to your health.

Boxes of pills such as Pepcid, Tylenol, and Advil can become part of an elaborate shoplifting ring.

"Shoplifters will go into stores, the will steal the product, ultimately they will sell it to a middle man," explained U.S. Postal Inspector David Arminio.

That person will then try to sell the product online -- often at up to 30% less than retail stores. The crime also poses a physical danger.

"A lot of these products have temperature requirements. They have to be stored within a certain degree. When they are stolen, they are either stored in big warehouses, cars in hot weather," said Arminio.

Officials say the criminals involved in these schemes are focused on money, not temperatures, expiration dates or health.

"If someone consumes a product that is possible spoiled, they can get sick and one of our main concerns was a lot of products in this scheme were baby formula," said Arminio.

Experts warn consumers to be wary of online deals with price tags far below typical market value.

"When it is that much cheaper than the store, you kind of have to wonder 'where is that product from?' No one has more buying power than the national retail chain," said Arminio.

The suspects in this case were discovered from leads provided by some retail stores, then developed with undercover purchases made by postal inspectors.