While free at-home COVID tests from the government should be arriving soon, you may still need to buy tests more frequently due to the surge of the Omicron variant. Just like fake KN95 masks exist, so too do fake at-home COVID tests. Here's how to ensure what you're buying is an actual (and reliable) COVID test.
Scammers are preying on the high demand for COVID tests, selling bogus or expired tests, overcharging, or taking your money with no tests in return. The Federal Trade Commission warned that using fake at-home test kits is not only a waste of money, but it increases your risk of potentially spreading COVID or not getting the treatment you need if you get an inaccurate negative test result. Here's how to ensure your test is legitimate:
If you've been unlucky enough to experience any fraud or scams when purchasing COVID tests, report it to ReportFraud.ftc.gov so you can save someone else from being taken advantage of.
POPSUGAR aims to give you the most accurate and up-to-date information about the coronavirus, but details and recommendations about this pandemic may have changed since publication. For the latest information on COVID-19, please check out resources from the WHO, the CDC, and local public health departments.