A Muskegon based company may be scamming its customers out of money, as the Michigan attorney general’s office is investigating whether the company is selling fake masks to customers that they never recieve.
According to a press release by the Michigan Department of Attorney General, authorities investigating a Muskegon business that has reportedly been accepting payment for face masks, including N-95 masks, but failing to provide consumers with the products, which have become highly sought after due to the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019.
The Attorney General’s office issued subpoenas for records from EM General LLC to shed light on its business practices, including sales records and other financial information, Subpoenas will also be used to acquire testimony from EM General employees engaged in the company’s operations.
According to the Attorney General’s office, the company is likely in violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act for several reasons, including price-gouging, misleading customers about its goods or services, advertising goods or services without the intent to provide those to purchasers and failing to provide consumers with refunds.
EM General’s website was selling “antiviral” N-95 masks for around $25 apiece. A 10-pack box of N-95 masks generally sells for closer to $15. Delays in providing the product to consumers were blamed on a high demand for the masks, and because of a “nationwide lockdown (COVID-19),” though no such lockdown exists. Company emails also show discrepancies in the CEO’s name, referring to him as “Dennis Rivera” and “Mike T.”
"My office will act swiftly against any business that thinks it can dupe consumers,” Nessel said. “We will continue to investigate complaints and take appropriate action to ensure consumers are being treated fairly and that they are not being taken advantage of by companies that are explicitly breaking our laws.”
Multiple complaints have been filed from customers who say they never received the masks.
