N95 Masks are In Short Supply -- And Scammers Know It

Premier Inc. -- a North Carolina-based company that helps procure PPE for 4,000 hospitals and 175,000 non-acute providers like surgical centers -- recently received a strange call.

A person posing as a "broker" offered Premier 500 million masks, saying they had access to the sizable inventory, said Chaun Powell, group vice president with Premier. The company promptly called 3M, who told Premier it would be impossible for anyone to have that many masks immediately available.

Meanwhile, scores of calls are pouring in. "Last week we received 10 to 20 solicitations from agents for millions of N95 masks. This week it's 70 calls," Powell said.

Even as 3M and other makers ramp up production, Powell said immediate shortages have created opportunity for "questionable" mask products to seep into the supply chain.

"We have already seen masks enter the supply chain that fail to meet basic testing parameters," he said. He said Premier was aware of counterfeit N95 masks that showed the 3M logo incorrectly positioned on the packaging, for example.

"We have no interest in creating fear and doubt in the market, but we are focused on protecting the integrity of the supplies that our nation's dedicated caregivers and patients depend on," said Powell.

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