LOOKS can be deceiving and you pay for what your get. Purchasing protection over the web – in what may seem to be a good bargain – could ultimately leave consumers with a deadly virus!
Indeed, online cheap masks and gloves peddlers are providing a false sense of security.
A Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs enforcement source divulged to FocusM that the authority has received no less than 10 complaints since March this year from trademark companies on the fraudulent use of their masks and gloves.
Authorities fear that this is just the tip of the iceberg as demand for masks and gloves continue to rise around the globe.
“Many of these masks and gloves are repackaged using recyclable boxes from well-known brands,” the source pointed out.
“We have seized many of these items from their premises and production houses. Many of these items originate from China.”
Worst still, some of these fake products can be recycled merchandise.
In an interview with FocusM recently, Limmas (M) Sdn Bhd (a nitrile glove maker) CEO Lim Choon Huat advised customers buy or procure their glove supply directly from the manufacturers.
“Based on my customer’s experience, 90% of those who get their glove supply from agents/distributors/dealers tend to be sold with recycled/reused gloves 90% of the time,” he shared.
“The main reason is that all glove manufacturers are already running at full capacity.”
Con job
Unfortunately, the victims are usually the B40 group which can ill-afford to continuously buy masks and gloves.
Many of these fraudulent items with misleading advertisements are purchased online – whether consciously or otherwise.
Enforcement, however, is not easy as every time there is a raid on these production companies, the story keeps changing, the source explained.
“Each time we make a query, there is no proper chain of evidence and the finger is always pointed somewhere else,” the industry source noted.
Consumers are advised to check the quality of the products they purchase and to ensure that those products are bought from reliable places.
Last month, glove producer Hartalega Holdings Bhd pursued legal action against glove fraudsters.
In light of rampant cases of fraudulent operators peddling gloves, Hartalega is standing firm against glove scammers.
“We are gravely concerned by the escalating behaviour of these glove scammers,” lamented Hartalega CEO Kuan Mun Leong.
“As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in demand for gloves.”
Attempting to capitalise on the situation, scammers have relentlessly approached potential buyers with false claims, according to Kuan.
“Their claims revolve around having ready stock and allocation of Hartalega’s own brand nitrile and latex gloves, GloveOn,” he revealed the modus operandi.
“Their fraudulent schemes include claiming to be stock allocators for Hartalega, requesting for payment to be deposited in escrow or third-party accounts and utilising social media to solicit business, among others.”
That people are being misled by these fraudulent operators is a very serious crime given the fact that gloves are critical personal protective equipment, especially for those in the healthcare industry – and in view of the raging COVID-19 pandemic. – Dec 9, 2020
