Federal authorities are investigating a massive counterfeit N95 mask operation in which fake 3M masks were sold in at least five states to hospitals, medical facilities and government agencies,” according to a news report by Colleen Long published February 10 in The Associated Press (AP), which has been picked up and distributed by multiple media outlets.
Officials could not name the states or the company involved because of the active investigation, the AP report continued. 3M, based in Maplewood, Minnesota, is among the largest global producers of the N95 mask, which has been approved by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and is considered the gold standard in protection against the coronavirus.
During the pandemic, Homeland Security Investigations has used its 7,000 agents in tandem with border officials, the Food and Drug Administration and the FBI to investigate scams, seize phony products and arrest hundreds of people to help stop fraud, the report added. The effort is based at the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, a government watchdog aimed at enforcing international trade laws and combating intellectual property theft.
There have been already more than 1,250 raids by law enforcement that resulted in the seizure of 10 million counterfeit 3M masks alone, the report continued. The company has filed more than a dozen lawsuits over reports of fraud, counterfeiting and price gouging.
Yesterday, 3M released a letter to customers stating that the company, “has been receiving increasing reports of counterfeiting and fraud related to the following three 3M respirator models: 3M Healthcare Particulate Respirator and Surgical Mask 1860; 3M Healthcare Particulate Respirator and Surgical Mask 1860S; and 3M Aura Healthcare Particulate Respirator and Surgical Mask 1870+. These have included reports of fake/counterfeit product as well as fraudulent offers where product is offered but not delivered.”
The 3M letter continued, “We have been working with law enforcement to get counterfeit respirators off the market. These enforcement actions have resulted in the seizure of millions of counterfeit model 1860, 1860S, and 1870+ surgical respirators.”
Additionally, the company advised in the letter, “In evaluating offers for these respirators, please consider some common signs of counterfeit:
• All 3M model 1860, 1860S, and 1870+ respirators imported into the United States from any other country are likely to be counterfeit. 3M is not currently importing these respirator models into the United States. If you have been offered these models coming from outside the United States, they should be viewed as counterfeit.
• All 3M model 1860, 1860S, and 1870+ respirators exported from China/ Hong Kong should be viewed as counterfeit. We do not manufacture these respirators in China/Hong Kong.
• Do not rely on TUV, SGS, or similar certification reports. All shipments of 3M model 1860, 1860S, and 1870+ respirators accompanied by a TUV, SGS, or similar certification report are likely counterfeit.
• 3M does not use a “Peru Seal” or other similar seals (examples at right). Respirators bearing these seals are likely counterfeit.”
Additionally, 3M stated in the letter, “We strongly recommend that 3M respirators be purchased only through 3M authorized distributors, or through existing contracting vehicles (i.e., Federal Supply Schedules), as this will provide the greatest assurance of receiving authentic product. Please contact our anti-fraud hotline at 1-800-426-8688 or 3M.com/covidfraud:
• If you are considering an offer for product that raises one or more of these concerns,
• If you have purchased product from a seller who is not a 3M authorized distributor, or that raises one or more of these concerns, and want to authenticate the product,
• To verify whether a seller who is offering or has sold you these products is a 3M authorized distributor, or
• If you have any other questions about model 1860, 1860S, or 1870+ surgical respirators or other 3M respiratory protection products.”
