Scammers continue to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic
to steal money through a variety of means. The FBI is warning the health care
industry in particular of an increased potential for fraudulent activity
dealing with the purchase of COVID-19-related medical equipment. Based on the
current stress on the supply chain, scammers may promise equipment they do not
have access to in order to capitalize on the medical community’s urgent needs.
The FBI asks the medical community to exercise due diligence and appropriate
caution when dealing with any vendors with whom they have never worked and/or of
which they’ve never heard, and when relying on unidentified third-party brokers
in the supply chain.
The FBI advises to be on the lookout for any suspicious
activity, to include:
- Unusual payment terms (e.g., supplier asking for up-front payments or proof of payment)
- Last-minute price changes
- Last-minute excuses for delay in shipment (e.g., claims that the equipment was seized at port or stuck in customs)
- Unexplained source of bulk supply
If you think you have information of suspicious activity by
a vendor, or believe you were a victim of a scam or attempted fraud involving
COVID-19, please report it:
- Submit a tip to the FBI online at tips.fbi.gov
- If it’s a cyber scam, submit your complaint to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov
- Contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via email at disaster@leo.gov
Additionally, the FBI urges everyone to be cautious of
anyone selling products that claim to prevent, treat, diagnose, or cure
COVID-19. Be alert to counterfeit products like sanitizing products and
personal protective equipment (PPE), including N95 respirator masks, goggles,
full-face shields, protective gowns, and gloves.
More information on unapproved or counterfeit PPE can be
found at cdc.gov/niosh. You can also find information on the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration website and the Environmental Protection Agency website.
Counterfeit products can be reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint
Center and to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center.
For accurate and up-to-date information about COVID-19,
visit:
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