As millions of Americans continue to seek coronavirus tests, authorities warned that fake at-home testing kits are being sold online on Tuesday.
The Federal Trade Commission warned that the fake tests are not only a waste of money, but increase the chance of unknowingly spreading the virus and not getting the correct treatment, saying some “opportunistic scammers” are taking “advantage of the spike in demand.”
The FTC offered some tips to help people avoid purchasing the fake tests in a statement Tuesday.
They recommend buyers double check the test is authorized by the Food and Drug Administration by seeing if it is on their list of antigen diagnostic tests and molecular diagnostic tests before purchasing.
People should also research the seller before buying from a website they do not know about, according to the statement.
“Search online for the website, company, or seller’s name plus words like ‘scam,’ ‘complaint,’ or ‘review,'” the statement said.
The FTC also suggested that people compare online reviews from a wide variety of websites.
“You can get a good idea about a company, product, or service from reading user reviews on various retail or shopping comparison sites. Think about the source of the review. Ask yourself: Where is this review coming from? Is it from an expert organization or individual customers?” the FTC said.
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