Customers who purchased phony Zephyr N95 masks to get greater than $1 million in refunds

The Federal Commerce Fee is sending a complete of greater than $1 million to totally refund individuals who purchased deceptively marketed face masks throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the company introduced on Monday.

The FTC in April 2024 took motion in opposition to Razer and a number of other associates over their manufacturing and sale of a “wearable air air purifier” face masks known as the Zephyr. Beginning in October of 2021, the Zephyr masks and three units of filters bought for $99.99; the Razer Zephyr Starter Pack containing a masks and 33 units of filters bought for $149.99; and a Razer Zephyr Filter Pack containing 10 units of filters bought for $29.99, in response to the FTC’s grievance.

“These companies falsely claimed, within the midst of a worldwide pandemic, that their face masks was the equal of an N95 licensed respirator,” Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Shopper Safety, mentioned on the time. “The FTC will proceed to carry accountable companies that use false and unsubstantiated claims to focus on customers who’re making selections about their well being and security.”

Checks or PayPal funds of roughly $150 every are being despatched to just about 6,800 customers who bought the merchandise, which have been falsely marketed as N95 or N95 equal with out having been examined or licensed as such, the FTC acknowledged.

Individuals who obtain the refunds ought to money their examine inside 90 days or redeem their PayPal fee inside 30 days, in response to the company. Customers with questions on their funds can contact the refund administrator, Simpluris, at 1-833-285-3003 or go to the FTC’s web site to see an inventory of steadily requested questions concerning the refund course of.  

The FTC by no means requires individuals to pay cash or present account data to get a refund, the company famous.