NEWARK – With demand for Covid testing skyrocketing due to the omicron variant, Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck announced that the Division of Consumer Affairs has sent more than 50 warning letters to businesses whose prices for Covid test kits have generated complaints from New Jersey consumers.
“The Murphy Administration continues to take additional actions to ensure that Covid tests are available and affordable for all New Jersey residents,” stated Bruck. “We are informing retailers if consumers are complaining about their prices and making sure they understand that we will not hesitate to take action if their sales practices violate our laws.”
Other recent actions by the Murphy Administration to ensure that testing is available to everyone in New Jersey include Governor Murphy’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency to respond to the Omicron variant; a partnership with Vault Medical Services to offer at-home Covid saliva testing for any person who believes they need to be tested, with or without symptoms, at no cost; and ensuring that there are ample free public testing locations available across the state.
“Unscrupulous businesses and individuals looking to make a quick buck should know that the Division stands ready to take action to protect consumers,” stated Sean P. Neafsey, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “We also want consumers to learn more about potential Covid testing scams and how to avoid them. We ask that consumers report to us any unreasonable price increases as well as any other issues associated with suspicious Covid testing.”
The warning letters sent by the Division of Consumer Affairs to a combination of pharmacies, supermarkets, and convenience stores across the state warn retailers that New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act protects consumers from gross and unreasonable inflation of the sale price of any product sought by consumers to respond to or protect themselves from a public health crisis, such as the Covid pandemic. The letters are based on complaints from consumers and do not reflect a conclusion by the division that any retailer has violated the law.
Additionally, consumers should be on the lookout for scams connected to the sale of Covid tests. Nationwide, individuals and entities are taking advantage of the pandemic to market fraudulent tests that have not been authorized by the FDA and may not provide accurate results.
As demand for Covid testing continues, the division urges consumers to follow the following tips:
Consumers who believe they have been targeted by a scheme related to Covid, or who believe that businesses have unfairly increased their prices in response to Covid, are encouraged to file a complaint online and report specific details.
Photographs of items being sold, receipts, and pricing can now be uploaded to a complaint form. Consumers can also call 1-800-242-5846 to receive a complaint form by mail.