shutterstock_1642888921_kira_yan
Kira Yan / Shutterstock.com
6 May 2020AmericasSarah Morgan

Pfizer, Alibaba, Amazon, Merck unite to fight COVID-19 fraud

Criminal investigators in the US Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center  have partnered with  Pfizer,  3M,  Citi,  Alibaba,  Amazon and  Merck & Co to combat fraud and other illegal activity related to COVID-19.

In what HSI has called an “unprecedented public-private partnership”, the companies are collaborating to halt the sale of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, illicit online sales and the importation of products claiming to be treatment options.

HSI acting executive associate director Alysa Erichs said: “A robust partnership with the private sector is an absolute requirement to effectively disrupt and dismantle COVID-19 criminal networks and strengthen global supply-chain security.”

Since the start of the pandemic, HSI and other law enforcement agencies have seen a significant increase in criminals “attempting to capitalise and profit from the fear and anxiety surrounding the virus”.

In April, HSI launched Operation Stolen Promise to prevent and investigate illegal criminal activity surrounding the pandemic, strengthen global supply-chain security and protect the American public.

As of Monday, May 4, HSI special agents have opened more than 315 investigations nationwide; seized over $3.2 million dollars in illicit proceeds; made 11 arrests; and executed 21 search warrants.

David Resch, vice president and chief security officer at Merck & Co, said: “Merck is committed to patient safety and protecting the public from the dangers of counterfeit medicines.

“We appreciate this collaboration and we will continue to partner with law enforcement and health care officials worldwide to combat the dangers posed by criminals trafficking in illicit medicines.

HSI has also analysed more than 19,000 COVID-19-related domain names and worked alongside US Customs and Border Protection to seize 494 shipments of mislabelled, fraudulent, unauthorised or prohibited COVID-19 test kits, treatment kits, homeopathic remedies, purported anti-viral products and personal protective equipment.

Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon vice president, customer trust and partner support, added: “Amazon welcomes HSI’s partnership in holding counterfeiters and bad actors accountable, and we look forward to building on our long-standing relationship to protect customers and ensure a trusted shopping experience.”

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Amazon has proactively stopped more than six-and-a-half million products with inaccurate claims, and removed more than one million offers for suspected price gouging, it said.

The online platform has also suspended more than 10,000 selling accounts for suspected price gouging and referred the “most egregious offenders” to federal and state law enforcement across the country.

Another member of partnership, 3M, has been attempting to combat the alleged price-gouging of its N95 masks.

Earlier this week, LSIPR reported that 3M had  widened its litigation campaign, filing another four trademark infringement suits against companies accused of reselling N95 masks at inflated prices, while also securing a preliminary injunction in another suit.

Mike Roman, 3M chairman and CEO, added: “At 3M, we play a unique and critical role in pandemic preparedness and response. As a result, we are attacking the pandemic from all angles, which includes mobilising all our resources and rapidly increasing output of critical supplies to healthcare workers and first responders.”


More on this story

Medtech
15 March 2022   Therabody has sued TJ Maxx’s parent company, alongside five “unauthorised” Amazon resellers for patent and trademark infringement, claiming they sell “knockoff” massage gun products.
Big Pharma
27 April 2021   Pfizer has discovered counterfeit versions of its COVID-19 vaccine in Mexico and Poland, prompting governments to reassure the public over the safety of vaccine supply chains.
Asia-Pacific
26 May 2020   The Australian government has ordered an investigation into the sale of counterfeit face masks in the country, following warnings from health experts and local media reports over the prevalence of fake equipment.

More on this story

Medtech
15 March 2022   Therabody has sued TJ Maxx’s parent company, alongside five “unauthorised” Amazon resellers for patent and trademark infringement, claiming they sell “knockoff” massage gun products.
Big Pharma
27 April 2021   Pfizer has discovered counterfeit versions of its COVID-19 vaccine in Mexico and Poland, prompting governments to reassure the public over the safety of vaccine supply chains.
Asia-Pacific
26 May 2020   The Australian government has ordered an investigation into the sale of counterfeit face masks in the country, following warnings from health experts and local media reports over the prevalence of fake equipment.