Senators Also Request Report About Fraud and Counterfeits During the COVID-19 Pandemic

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Chris Coons (D-DE) sent a bipartisan letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) commending the agency for its quick action to combat online fraud related to unemployment benefits, dangerous counterfeit personal protective equipment, and counterfeit vaccines. The Senators also expressed support for Operation Stolen Promise 2.0, an initiative to protect against counterfeit vaccines, and their added focus on the risk of counterfeit vaccines going into this next phase of recovery. Additionally, the Senators asked HSI to provide Congress with a report on the trends and observations of the types of crime they identified during the pandemic.

“In April U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) launched Operation Stolen Promise,” the Senators wrote. “This operation is an impressive collaboration of federal agencies, business leaders, industry representatives, and international law enforcement partnerships. We are grateful for the quick and decisive actions HSI has taken to address the new challenges to public health and safety created by this pandemic. As of November 27, 2020, Operation Stole Promise’s efforts have led to 187 criminal arrests, 1,653 seizures of prohibited COVID-19 items, such as counterfeit test kits, counterfeit masks, and banned pharmaceuticals. Additionally, Operation Stolen Promise resulted in $ 27.8 million in illicit proceeds seized, $18.8 million in disrupted fraudulent transactions, and $21.6 million in Cares Act fraud seizures.”

The Senators continued, “As Operation Stolen Promise 2.0 progresses, you must take any and all necessary actions to stop the spread of misinformation about counterfeit vaccines and to stop the sale of such fake vaccines in the United States. You also must regularly track new trends in counterfeit COVID-19 products, whether they be threats, disruptions, or potential threats. It is important that we look back on the challenges of this year to learn how to better prevent the same threats to public safety in the future.”

Individuals should never attempt to purchase COVID-19 vaccines or treatments online.

Read the full letter here.

Dear Mr. Francis: 

We write you today to express our support for your continued work to protect the American people. Over the last twelve months, your agency has led the effort to combat criminal activity, including preventing fraud with unemployment benefits and Payment Protection Plan loans, counterfeits, and intellectual property theft during this pandemic. Your efforts have undoubtedly increased public safety during this difficult time. 

In April U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) launched Operation Stolen Promise. This operation is an impressive collaboration of federal agencies, business leaders, industry representatives, and international law enforcement partnerships. We are grateful for the quick and decisive actions HSI has taken to address the new challenges to public health and safety created by this pandemic. As of November 27, 2020, Operation Stole Promise’s efforts have led to 187 criminal arrests, 1,653 seizures of prohibited COVID-19 items, such as counterfeit test kits, counterfeit masks, and banned pharmaceuticals. Additionally, Operation Stolen Promise resulted in $ 27.8 million in illicit proceeds seized, $18.8 million in disrupted fraudulent transactions, and $21.6 million in Cares Act fraud seizures.

We understand HSI recently launched Operation Stolen Promise 2.0, which will concentrate specifically on preventing production, sales, and distribution of counterfeit or unauthorized COVID-19 treatments, and vaccines. The threat of counterfeit vaccines to the American public cannot be understated and we are pleased to see you have placed such a high priority on addressing this threat.

As Operation Stolen Promise 2.0 progresses, you must take any and all necessary actions to stop the spread of misinformation about counterfeit vaccines and to stop the sale of such fake vaccines in the United States. You also must regularly track new trends in counterfeit COVID-19 products, whether they be threats, disruptions, or potential threats. It is important that we look back on the challenges of this year to learn how to better prevent the same threats to public safety in the future.

Accordingly, to better understand the types of fraud, counterfeit sales, intellectual property theft, and other criminal activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we ask that you provide Congress with a report outlining trends that you have identified up to this point with both phases of Operation Stolen Promise. In the report we would also like you to identify what specific actions you are taking now and what potential changes you will make should we face a similar challenge in the future during vaccine distributions. Please provide the report within 180 days from December 17, 2020.

Sincerely,

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