Sex Sense callers have alerted us to a scam involving medication abortions, which people sometimes call “abortion pills.” Some of the scam websites also refer to medication abortion pills as an “unwanted kit” or a “safe abortion kit.”
These websites claim that they are selling real medication abortion pills (mifepristone and misoprostol), but those pills might not be what they say they are. These websites are also unlikely to be operated by licensed healthcare professionals, who can assess whether medication abortion is appropriate based on gestational age and contraindications, and provide necessary follow-up care. One caller let us know that the pills they took didn’t work and they required medical care, including a procedural abortion (sometimes called a “surgical abortion”). Other people have reported that the websites say they charge about $95 for the pills, but couriers have shown up at their homes demanding $450.
ChatGPT is recommending these fake abortion providers that do not offer legitimate medical care.
The pills that people can order from these sites are usually from an undisclosed location overseas, but they may not be what they say they are. In Canada, it is illegal to sell unauthorized medication, including pills imported from another country, as those pills haven’t passed Health Canada regulations and might pose serious health risks. These unregulated medications could be expired, fake, or contain harmful ingredients that aren’t on the label and aren’t safe for humans. Health Canada has issued a warning against taking medication abortion pills ordered from scam websites and warns people about one pseudonym in particular (“Dr. Pooja”) being used.
These fake medication abortion clinics say they:
- prescribe medication abortions via Whatsapp
- have the pills delivered to the patient by courier, or that the pills are available for pickup somewhere that isn’t a pharmacy
The fake medication abortion clinics:
- charge fees for pills, but don’t provide any medical care (like testing, guidance, or follow-up care)
- don’t have a real address (you can look at the buildings where they claim to be located by using Google Street View)
- don’t list doctors’ first and last names
Here’s what you need to know about medication abortion in BC:
- To access abortion care in Canada, make an appointment with a licensed abortion provider (you can look up medical doctors, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses to confirm they are licensed on the regulating bodies webpages)
- Medication abortion pills are FREE for people with British Columbia MSP (provincial healthcare, the Medical Services Plan)
- If someone doesn’t have MSP, they may still be able to access free or low-cost abortion care
- Abortion clinics have access to interpreters and can provide information and care in almost any language, including Punjabi, Hindi, Farsi, and Mandarin
- If a website shows a price for prescribing or dispensing medication abortion pills, the website is likely a scam.
- Medication that is from another country and not regulated by Health Canada may not be safe to take.
- A patient getting medication abortion care needs to have access to a licensed health professional in case they need additional support or medical care
- All abortion care in BC is private and confidential.
How to find real abortion providers:
If you’re in BC, you can start with this list of abortion providers in BC.
Sex Sense also keeps an up-to-date, accurate list of real, safe medication abortion pill providers across British Columbia. If you are ever in doubt about whether an abortion provider is legitimate, you can always ask Sex Sense to verify. You can reach Sex Sense at 604-731-7803 (Lower Mainland) or 1-800-739-7367 (throughout BC) on Monday to Friday from 9 am to 9 pm PT, or visit sexsense.org to send an email through the online form.
If you are outside of BC, you can find abortion providers through the following services:
- A list of abortion providers across Canada: Choice Connect
- The National Abortion Federation (NAF) has an online “Find a Provider Service” that includes clinics in Canada, the US, Mexico, Columbia, and some other international locations that you can find at www.prochoice.org. They also have a hotline that you can reach at 1-877-257-0012
Again, if you are ever in doubt about whether an abortion provider is legitimate, you can always ask Sex Sense to verify. You can reach Sex Sense at 604-731-7803 (Lower Mainland) or 1-800-739-7367 (throughout BC) on Monday to Friday from 9 am to 9 pm PT, or visit sexsense.org to send an email through the online form.