According to the CDC, more than 60 percent of the KN95 masks on the market in the United States are counterfeit

Washington (February 1, 2022) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today urged Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to ramp up efforts to prevent the sale of fraudulent and counterfeit masks by retailers in the United States. Authentic masks are a crucial, effective, and low-cost tool for reducing transmission and infection of COVID-19, but according to numerous reports retailers – particularly online marketplaces – are selling counterfeit and fraudulent products. The DOJ has established a COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which can take enforcement actions against those selling fraudulent masks to health care providers and state and local governments. The senators’ letter asks the Justice Department to expand its efforts, and investigate and pursue action against those who sell fraudulent masks to the general public. Media reports reveal that companies that make or sell masks of questionable quality earned nearly $34 million in sales in one month alone.

“During this critical time, American consumers need assurances that the products they purchase to protect themselves and their loved ones are safe, effective, and legitimate,” wrote the Senators in their letter to Attorney General Garland. “I urge the DOJ to redouble its efforts to ensure that consumers are not vulnerable to fraudulent masks sold through brick-and-mortar and online retail settings. Americans trying to protect themselves, their families, and their communities should not face potentially life-threatening exploitation by unscrupulous actors.”

A copy of the Senators’ letter can be found HERE.

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