10 million fake N95 masks seized in US virus probe

Federal agents have seized more than 10 million fake 3M brand N95 masks in recent weeks, the result of an investigation into counterfeits sold in at least five states to hospitals, medical facilities and government agencies.

The most recent seizures occurred on Wednesday when Homeland Security agents intercepted hundreds of thousands of counterfeit 3M masks in an East Coast warehouse that were set to be distributed, officials said.

Investigators also notified about 6,000 potential victims in at least 12 states including hospitals, medical facilities and others who may have unknowingly purchased knockoffs, urging them to stop using the medical-grade masks.

Officials encouraged medical workers and companies to go to 3M’s website for tips on how to spot fakes.

“Not only do they give a false sense of security, how dangerous is the exposed individual without any protective gear? They have no utility whatsoever,” Homeland Security Secretary Ali Mayorkas said.

The masks do not come through 3M’s distributors, they come from outside the normal supply chain, officials said.

But hospitals and medical groups have increasingly gone around normal purchasing routines during mask shortages in the global pandemic, officials said.

They said the scams are taking advantage of the panic over masks.

Homeland Security officials would not say which states the phony masks were sent to, but said criminal charges would be forthcoming.

The phony masks are not tested to see whether they meet strict N95 standards and could put frontline medical workers at risk if they are used while treating patients with Covid-19.

Federal investigators say they have seen an increase in phony websites purporting to sell vaccines as well as fake medicine produced overseas and scams involving personal protective equipment.

The schemes deliver phony products, unlike earlier in the pandemic when fraudsters focused more on fleecing customers.