The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) worldwide. Ansell’s masks, gloves and suits are used around the world by healthcare providers, industrial workers and everyday people seeking to protect themselves and others from the spread of COVID-19.
This demand has also led to a rise in elaborate fraud schemes seeking to take advantage of our customers and end-users. These deceptive practices promise counterfeit versions of Ansell PPE with fraudulent product registrations, certificates, and/or test reports that do not meet Ansell’s quality standards. These scams might also use social engineering techniques, including “spoofing,” by fraudulently using Ansell employee names, logos, brands and/or look-alike Ansell emails. We caution our customers to look out for fraud schemes.
COMMON SIGNS OF POTENTIAL FRAUD SCHEMES
- Requests for the urgent transfer of funds or other last-minute changes to payment instructions
- Promises of readily available stock for immediate shipment and delivery
- Inability to explain the origin of products allegedly being sold
- Sellers with little to no history prior to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Suspiciously low pricing when compared to similar product listings
- Offers of large product quantities available without question
HOW TO ENSURE YOU RECEIVE ANSELL PRODUCTS
Important steps customers can take to ensure the offer and products they intend to purchase are legitimate:
- Request product samples
- Obtain product information, including product lot numbers and manufacturing dates
- Avoid making payments prior to delivery
The only legitimate Ansell website is Ansell.com (https://ansell.com). Common tips for avoiding fraudulent Ansell websites:
- Enter the Ansell.com web address directly into your browser
- Do not click on links in emails that you did not directly request from a company
- Do not click on links that look suspicious or employ lookalike domains, such as ansell-be.com, ansel-eu.com, ansell-bel.com
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FIND INSTANCES OF FRAUD
If encountered with fraudulent or suspicious offers to purchase Ansell products, attempts to impersonate Ansell, or other unauthorized activity related to Ansell’s brands, please contact Ansell IT Security at counter-fraud@ansell.com.
To help stop the prevalence of fraud, it is important to gather as much detail as possible regarding the identity and contact information of the perpetrator(s), specifics around the offer being made, and any documents or other supporting evidence. Report the fraud to fraud or cyber law enforcement or other government institutions.
U.S. Resources
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Fraudulent Covid-19 Products: https://www.fda.gov/safety/report-problem-fda/reporting-unlawful-sales-medical-products-internet
- Department of Justice (DOJ)
- National Center for Disaster Fraud: disaster@leo.gov
- Submit online scam complaints through Internet Crime Complaint Center: https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
- FBI
- Submit a Tip: tips.fbi.gov
- State Attorneys General
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC):
- Click on Covid-19 Alert: www.ftc.gov/complaint
UK Resources
EU Resources
- Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC): https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/consumers/enforcement-consumer-protection/scams-related-covid-19_en
Other Jurisdictions
- Please contact the competent national authorities