The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed suit against three online marketers for failing to deliver on promises that they could quickly ship products like face masks, hand sanitizer and other personal protective equipment related to the coronavirus pandemic. The cases were filed in federal court in California, Texas and Missouri.
The FTC alleges that the companies violated the FTC’s Mail, Internet and Telephone Order Rule, which requires that companies notify consumers of shipping delays in a timely manner and give consumers the chance to cancel orders and receive prompt refunds.
“When online merchants lie about the availability of personal protective equipment or about the ability of products to prevent and treat COVID-19, it’s a significant safety concern, and it’s illegal,” said Andrew Smith, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC will take aggressive action to stop such troubling conduct.”
The cases are part of the FTC’s ongoing enforcement actions against companies that are taking advantage of consumers during the global pandemic.