Phony Vaccines, Fake N95 Masks Trigger Homeland Fraud Warnings

The Homeland Security Department, stepping up its pursuit of coronavirus frauds, seized more than 1 million fake N95 masks intended for front-line health workers and warned individuals against buying phony vaccines.

“There are trusted partners that distribute vaccines,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said at a news conference Wednesday. “There are trusted partners that manufacture and distribute legitimate masks, and we need to protect ourselves.”

Homeland Security Investigations, the criminal investigative arm of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has been probing frauds related to the pandemic since April. The inquiry started with criminals targeting money provided by the CARES Act ( ...