When something is in high demand, unscrupulous people may try to sell cheap counterfeit products that are substandard.
Factors making counterfeit products successful:
(1) high demand and scarce supply
(2) lack of knowledge about the product
Signs of a counterfeit respirator:
(1) there are no markings at all on the filtering facepiece
(2) there is no approval (TC) number on the filtering facepiece
(3) there are no NIOSH markings (including approval markings)
(4) there is incorrect spellings
(5) there are decorative add-ons
(6) the mask uses ear loops instead of headbands
(7) the mask is designated as approved for children
(8) the mask does not cover nose and mouth
(9) the manufacturer is not listed on the NIOSH approved list of manufacturers
(10) the mask is not being purchased from a reputable dealer
