Fraudulent Claims of COVID-19 Cures May Cause Serious Health Effects
The first case of COVID-19 in the USA was reported on January 20, 2020, and by March 13, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic. By August 5th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported at least 4,748,806 cases and 156,311 deaths. Many con artists are trying to take advantage of people who are afraid of infection or death by promoting fake COVID-19 cures that, at best, don't help and, at worst, may cause serious illness, injury or death.Utah Man Poses As Medical Doctor to Sell Fake COVID-19 Cure
On July 28, Gordon H. Pedersen of Utah was indicted for pretending to be a medical doctor in order to sell a fraudulent COVID-19 cure. Pedersen was selling silver-based pills as a cure for COVID-19 infections. In his internet scam, Pedersen wore a white lab coat and stethoscope to make himself look authentic as a physician. A company previously owned by Pedersen called My Doctor Suggests issued a guilty plea for false and misleading marketing of ingestible silver products that Pedersen claimed would cure COVID-19. Although the company he worked for pleaded guilty, Pedersen himself faces separate charges in the scheme. The My Doctor Suggests company was also operating without being registered by the Food and Drug Administration. Pedersen's other company, GP Silver LLC, was also named on the indictment.Sales of Counterfeit Respirators
In the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks, respirators, gloves and other personal protective equipment were in short supply. This encouraged some con artists to create and distribute counterfeit N-95 respirators. This is the type of respirator worn by health care professionals. It removes 95% of viruses before they can reach the nasal passages. Look for respirators that are NIOSH-approved. If you're not sure, you can go to the organization’s website and find a list of approved manufacturers. A counterfeit N-95 respirator will give you false confidence that you're protected from COVID-19, but the fake devices aren't efficient at capturing viruses and filtering them from the air you breathe.Fraudulent Teas, Oils and Tinctures
People looking for a natural way to relieve COVID-19 symptoms or prevent infection may be lured by con artists selling fraudulent teas, essential oils or tinctures that claim to offer a cure or protection. Dozens of fake products have been identified, and the FDA has created a Flickr page with images of those items. Several of them contain colloidal silver, or silver nitrate, which could cause permanent bluish-gray discoloration of your skin. These products can also lead to interactions with antibiotics and thyroid medications. The FDA explains that there is no known use for colloidal silver in the human body. It's not proven to treat any condition.Dangerous Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol

Speak Your Mind