“We’re all in this together.” That’s the message I see painted on windows all over Metro Vancouver.
Well, not everyone. Some people are only out for themselves – creating a dangerous situation.
More than 1,500 fake COVID-19 testing kits were seized by the RCMP in partnership with Health Canada.
The COVID-19 Fraud Response Team of the BC RCMP, in partnership with Health Canada, acted on a tip from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre that the unauthorized kits were being sold online to unsuspecting British Columbians.
Imagine that. Not only was some scumbag gouging people with high prices, but they were selling items that were fake – meaning someone who has COVID-19 would likely receive a false result.
Selling or advertising health products that make false or misleading claims to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure COVID-19 is illegal in Canada.
From what I’ve seen, people will only receive a fine for getting caught.
In this type of case, they should be charged and if convicted, be sent to jail. Make a big show of it.
We need to send a message that there are scary consequences for this type of behaviour.
Health Canada said it is continuing to monitor websites for false and misleading claims, working with online retailers to ensure that unauthorized products and products making unauthorized claims are removed from their websites.
Canadians who have purchased unauthorized health products should stop using them immediately and consult a health care professional if they have used any of these products and have health concerns.
Health Canada encourages anyone who has information on the potential non-compliant sale or advertising of a health product claiming to treat, diagnose, prevent or cure COVID-19, to report it using the online complaint form.
- With files from Alan Campbell, Richmond News
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
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