Texas attorney general warns of scams involving the purchase of COVID-19 masks
As demand increases for personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic, scammers are taking the opportunity to make a profit.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alongside the Department of Justice warned Monday of fraudulent schemes involving masks and other COVID-19-related equipment.
Scammers may advertise equipment they don’t have, according to an Office of Texas Attorney General press release. The products may be counterfeit, mislabeled and sometimes don’t exist.
Some scammers reach out directly to consumers or government officials through email or social media. Red flags that a seller might be a scammer include:
Unusual payment terms
Last-minute price changes
Last-minute excuses for delay in shipment
Unexplained source of a large quantity of material
Evidence of re-packaging or mislabeling
The Office of Texas Attorney General and the Department of Justice urge people to be cautious when dealing with new vendors, especially when using a third-party broker.
Texans who believe they’ve encountered scams or price gouging should contact the Office of the Attorney General at (800) 621-0508 or file a complaint online.
