(RALEIGH) -- The FDA is launching a campaign to help patients avoid risky online pharmacies. A recent study reviewed 10-thousand online pharmacies and found that only three percent comply with state and federal laws.

Elisa Bernstein with the FDA has a warning for consumers,

"FDA is very concerned about these unlicensed, unregulated websites that offer prescription drugs for sale without a prescription and send you risky, fake, counterfeit, expired and other wise contaminated drugs."

Bernstein says many of the pharmacies sell drugs that have too much, too little, or no active ingredient at all, leading to adverse reactions in patients who take them and that legitimate websites are usually associated with an established pharmacy or are linked to your health insurance plan. Red flags may include pharmacies that sell drugs without a prescription, solicit sales via email or ship worldwide.