When everyone is selling PPE, how do you know who to trust? The COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact on essential workers, schools, auto dealerships, and many other workers and industries. Companies across the United States and North America have been scrambling to secure these critical PPE supplies, including face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, and no-contact thermometers. Unfortunately, the desperate demand for PPE has created an atmosphere of rampant PPE fraud.
Too many companies are struggling with the effects of PPE fraud, including price gouging, fraudulent and counterfeit products, and even non-delivery of PPE equipment after a buyer has remitted payment. Avoid being caught in a scam by ordering from a brand you can trust.
Increased Demand Leads to Increased PPE Fraud
Many businesses have employees who have already returned to work or are planning to return to the workplace. In order to create a workplace that keeps employees feeling safe, business leaders have been preparing. Part of that preparation has been securing PPE supplies, things like hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, sneeze guards, and other workplace safety products. The problem is, with demand so high, businesses have been struggling to properly source these supplies. In order to keep up with the demand for supplies like masks and gloves, the World Health Organization recently estimated that the global production of PPE supplies needs to be increased by a minimum of 40%.
With increased demand and supply chain disruptions, many companies began looking outside their normal domestic supply chain, and what followed was an influx of untested suppliers, profiteering, and fraud. Businesses found themselves victims of merchants who promised supplies and equipment to which they didn’t have access, as well as merchants who requested buyers wire funds before receiving the supplies and then delivering nothing in return.
Protect Your Business From PPE Fraud
Bus drivers, retail workers, construction workers, service providers, and many other employees all need quality PPE supplies. Unfortunately, criminals continue to target PPE buyers through elaborate fraud schemes. Fraudulent merchants are approaching vulnerable buyers and offering high quantities of PPE supplies at overly inflated prices. Make sure that you don’t get caught in a scam. Businesses can protect themselves and their employees by buying PPE from a brand you can trust and one with whom you have a local relationship.
Purchasing managers and business leaders seeking to procure PPE supplies for their employees should be mindful of a number of indicators for fraud, including:
- The seller communicates primarily thought irregular business channels (for example, communications may occur via a personal email account)
- It is difficult to verify the legitimacy of the seller’s connection to a legitimate business (for example, they will only communicate via a telephone number)
- The seller does not appear to have a lengthy corporate history
- The seller lacks a physical corporate address
- The seller cannot explain the origin of the PPE items
- The seller demands unusual payment terms or exhibits an unexplained urgency to transfer funds or make last-minute changes to previously agreed upon written payment instructions
- The seller makes last-minute excuses for a delay in shipment
Find PPE Supplies From a Trustworthy Vendor
PPE fraud poses a serious threat to businesses and individuals across the country. As demand stays high, increased suspicious activity is likely to continue, with fraud, price gouging, counterfeit products, and non-delivery of goods, the most common scams. Businesses looking to buy PPE should do so with an abundance of caution.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many businesses to change their day-to-day operations, instituting a variety of new health and safety protocols. With those protocols has come the need for quality personal safety equipment. Despite the high number of fraudulent merchants selling PPE, there are still legitimate sellers and manufacturers who can provide buyers with the products they need, in high volumes.
You can keep your employees, customers, and community safe with professional branded safety equipment from a trustworthy vendor. Since 1956, Safeguard has responded to evolving business needs across all industries. Now, Safeguard has the personal and workplace safety products you need to help safely run your business, from face coverings and gloves to hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes. Being locally owned and operated means we can offer personalized attention to your unique obstacles and provide you with individualized solutions.
This is an incredibly stressful time for many businesses. Don’t let buying PPE, a critically important task, be something that puts your business at risk. For over 60 years, customers have relied on their Safeguard advisor for products, services, and advice. Now, Safeguard is your one-stop-shop for all of your PPE essentials, with PPE products you need in bulk, in stock, in the US, and ready to deliver. Contact your Safeguard advisor or call 855.778.3124 to get started.
Key Takeaways
- Too many companies are struggling with PPE fraud.
- Avoid being caught in a scam by ordering from a brand you can trust.
- Keep your employees, customers, and community safe with professional branded safety equipment from a trustworthy vendor.
- For over 60 years, customers have relied on their Safeguard advisor for products, services, and advice.