A company alleged to have fraudulently sold a face mask as N95-grade must refund more than $1.1 million to customers nationwide, the Federal Trade Commission announced Monday.
Razer and its affiliates advertised the Zephyr mask as N95-grade despite never submitting it for testing or certification by the Food and Drug Administration or National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the agency said. In ads and posts on social media, the Zephyr masks were touted as the equivalent of an N95 that would protect users from COVID, the FTC stated in a complaint.
"These businesses falsely claimed, in the midst of a global pandemic, that their face mask was the equivalent of an N95 certified respirator," Samuel Levine, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. "The FTC will continue to hold accountable businesses that use false and unsubstantiated claims to target consumers who are making decisions about their health and safety."
Starting in October of 2021, the Zephyr mask and three sets of filters sold for $99.99; the Razer Zephyr Starter Pack containing a mask and 33 sets of filters sold for $149.99; and a Razer Zephyr Filter Pack containing 10 sets of filters sold for $29.99.
Razer Faces FTC Charges for Misleading COVID-Related Claims
After an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), gaming hardware company Razer has been found guilty of making false claims related to COVID-19 protective equipment.
A spokesperson for Razer was unavailable for immediate comment on the matter.
The FTC has ordered Razer and its affiliated businesses to cease making any COVID-related misrepresentations or unsubstantiated claims about protective gear. As part of the settlement, Razer will provide full refunds to customers who were misled by their product claims. Additionally, the company will be required to pay a civil penalty of $100,000.
