LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Tuesday, Attorney General Dana Nessel issued an urgent consumer alert to notify Michigan citizens of another online retailer that is taking advantage of consumers during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Nessel’s office recently received a complaint from a concerned Michigan consumer about a website called OkHomeOnline selling face masks, alcohol-based cleaning wipes, hand sanitizer, toilet paper and other products that are currently in high demand.
The consumer reported being charged for a purchase, but never received the order. Later attempts to check the order status were unsuccessful when the website could no longer be accessed.
During a subsequent investigation, Nessel’s office found that several complaints had been filed against OkHomeOnline from other states besides Michigan. They all reported complaints of paying for a purchase and never receiving it. They also reported that the website could not be found after the fact.
In addition, the phone numbers and addresses listed for the “company” appear to be stolen from other businesses that do not make or sell coronavirus-related products.
“Consumers should always be careful when shopping online, but being cautious is especially important in a time like this when public anxiety is high and scammers are looking to profit off fear,” Nessel said. “Researching the product and the seller before you make a purchase is never a bad idea, and it can help shoppers from falling victim to these predatory practices.”
This website is only the latest to come under fire by Nessel during the pandemic. In mid-April, the office announced it was issuing court-authorized subpoenas in its investigation into a Muskegon County business, EM General, for similar business practices of failing to provide consumers with their purchased products. That investigation is still underway.
More recently, three different online Amazon storefronts have come under fire for price-gouging products such as masks and hand sanitizer. In the beginning of April, four other businesses were under investigation as well.
Nessel’s office adds that it’s likely consumers will continue to seek products through digital retailers, which highlights the importance of shoppers being aware of potential scams.
Before ordering from a new or unfamiliar online store, consumers should consider doing the following:
- See if the company has reviews online. Search for the company in a search engine with terms like “review,” “complaints” or “scam.”
- Pay by credit card. If there are any issues with the purchase, consumers may be able to dispute the purchase with the credit card company and may have protections available under federal law.
- Review AG Nessel’s Online Shopping Tips consumer alert and more alerts under the Shopping for Products and Services category.
Additional warnings on how to avoid purchasing non-existent personal protective equipment (PPE) and other COVID-19-related products are available from the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Federal Trade Commission.
Consumers can report suspected incidents of price-gouging or other scams by filing a complaint online or by calling the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection tip line at 877-765-8388. Hours of operation are between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The latest information on COVID-19 is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
