Warning from GSA: Scamming and Price Gouging

Posted On: March 25, 2020

The General Services Administration (GSA) posted to Interact, its outreach website, that there have been “reports of companies fraudulently claiming to be GSA vendors attempting to exploit legitimate COVID-19 concerns to mislead consumers into paying exorbitant prices for products associated with COVID-19.” (Interact). Aaron Boyd of Nextgov covered the post relaying the warning that federal agencies and the contracting communities are “not immune” to being subject to scams (nextgov.com).

GSA has received reports of companies fraudulently claiming to be GSA vendors attempting to exploit legitimate COVID-19 concerns to mislead consumers into paying exorbitant prices for products associated with COVID-19.
Im portant: COVID-19 Fraud and Price Gouging (GSA Interact)

Products that are in high demand right now, like hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies, are being scooped up by scammers and price gougers. And they are targeting the organizations and government agencies that need it most. Recurring instances like this are why President Trump has signed an Executive Order to provide authority to address the offenses of price gouging. The White House will not tolerate the practice of hoarding and price gouging the necessary supplies to help fight the virus. (WhiteHouse.gov)

President Trump is signing an Executive Order providing the authority to address, if necessary, hoarding that threatens the supply of necessary health and medical resources. This includes the action of hoarding unnecessary quantities of items for the purpose of selling them above the fair market value. This action is authorized under the Defense Production Act, which allows the President to prohibit the hoarding of needed resources.
WhiteHouse.gov

A spokesperson of the GSA has suggested agencies take extra steps to verify the vendors they’re working with “even if [their] information seems credible.” (interact.gov)

If you suspect that fraudulent activity or price gouging is happening with a supposed GSA vendor, contact the National Customer Service Center at 800-488-3111 or NCSCcustomer.service@gsa.gov. It is important that we all work together in fairly providing the resources needed in defeating this virus.