There are fake home COVID tests – here’s how to avoid them

With the increased demand for home COVID-19 tests, there is also an increasing chance that the tests you just bought are really fake, the Federal Trade Commission warned in a new warning this week.

In addition, the Food and Drug Administration highlighted in November that fake COVID-19 tests and “drugs” are circulating online. “You run the risk of spreading COVID-19 unknowingly or not being treated appropriately if you use an unauthorized test,” the FDA said in a recent statement.

To make sure you don’t get fraudulent COVID-19 testing, the FTC has also shared some tried-and-true tips for when you shop online. This is what you need to know before you buy test kits at home.

Only buy tests approved by the FDA.

When selecting an at-home COVID-19 test kit to purchase, first make sure it’s an FDA-authorized test, the FTC explained.

The FDA maintains a list of authorized antigen testing products here and a list of authorized molecular test products here. There is also a list of known fakes here.

Before you buy, check those lists to make sure the test you selected has been approved for emergency use by the FDA—and that it’s not on the FDA’s list of fraudulent products.

Buy only from trusted sellers.

You can find FDA-approved tests at: commonly trusted sites, such as those for major pharmacies and retail stores. But when looking for quick home tests, you may find yourself browsing sites you’re not too familiar with. If you’re using a site like Amazon, pay attention to who’s selling the items.

That’s why the FTC recommends that you “check out a seller before you buy, especially if you’re buying from a site you don’t know.”

To do this, you’ll need to search online for the seller’s name, along with words like “scam” or “complaint,” the FTC says. That can raise some red flags about a particular seller.

Search online reviews about the seller and product.

When doing your research, you should also search online for customer reviews on a particular product or seller. It’s best to compare comments from multiple sites, as it’s not always easy to see where an online review is coming from.

“You can get a good idea of ​​a company, product, or service by reading user reviews on various retail or retail comparison sites,” the FTC says. “Consider the source of the review. Ask yourself: Where did this review come from? Is it from an expert organization or from individual customers?”

Use a credit card to purchase your tests.

Finally, when you are ready to buy, use a credit card to purchase your home COVID-19 tests. That way, if all else fails and you get a fraudulent test or you simply never receive a product you paid for, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company.

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