Looking for at-home COVID tests? Take these steps to ensure you don’t get scammed online
Many residents in Whatcom County and elsewhere across the country have found scheduling an appointment to be tested for COVID-19 difficult due to the recent holidays, winter weather and higher demand spurred by a record increase in cases.
Some have turned to purchasing at-home test kits online, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that demand has led to a number of fake and unauthorized test kits popping up online as scammers look to take advantage of this new market.
“Using these fake products isn’t just a waste of money, it increases your risk of unknowingly spreading COVID-19 or not getting the appropriate treatment,” the Federal Trade Commission said in a news release Tuesday, Jan. 3.
The Whatcom County Health Department told The Bellingham Herald it has not yet heard any reports of testing scams locally.
To help protect against these fake test kits, the FTC suggests:
▪ Making sure you buy a test authorized by the FDA. Lists of antigen diagnostic tests and molecular diagnostic tests that are authorized by the FDA for home use are available online.
▪ Checking out sellers before buying test kits, especially if you are making a purchase from a seller you don’t know. Tips include searching the name of the website, company or seller’s name along with words such as “scam,” “complaint” or “review.”
▪ Comparing online reviews from a variety of websites and then think about the source of the review you are reading. “Ask yourself: Where is this review coming from? Is it from an expert organization or individual customers?”
▪ Paying with a credit card provides an extra layer of protection to dispute charges in case you get charged for a product you didn’t buy or isn’t as advertised.
▪ If you do believe you’ve been the victim of a scammer or purchased a bogus test, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
This story was originally published January 4, 2022 at 11:21 AM.
