On February 11, 2021, 3M issued a letter to their customers warning about fraud related to three of their surgical respirator models. The company said they have been received reports of both fake/counterfeit products being sold and ‘offers’ that are never delivered. By working with law enforcement, they have been able to identify and seize millions of such products, but there are still fraudulent products on the market.

3M emphasizes that if you have acquired respirators through a seller that is not a 3M authorized distributor, there is a significant risk and the product should not be used. For more information on how to identify counterfeit respirators and lot codes that have been flagged as fraudulent, visit their website or read their released warning statement below.