Craigslist must remove posts that profit off coronavirus fears, NY AG says
Scammers are trying to capitalize on the COVID-19 outbreak.
- She received the Renau Writing Scholarship in 2016 from the University of Louisville's communication department.
New York Attorney General Letitia James demanded that Craigslist remove posts attempting to illegally profit off of consumers' coronavirus fears. James said she's also calling for assurance that the company has policies in place to stop scammers.
"I won't hesitate to take action against those who use this crisis as a get-rich-quick scheme," James tweeted on Friday. She referenced overcharging for hand sanitizer and users attempting to sell test kits or fake items that claim to provide immunity to the virus.
Read more: 3 tips to protect yourself from coronavirus health scams
Craigslist didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Craiglist isn't the only online marketplace dealing with price gouging or listings that make false health claims amid the coronavirus pandemic. eBay has banned the sale of face masks and hand sanitizer to combat price gouging, and the e-commerce company is removing listings that mention coronavirus and COVID-19. Earlier this month, Amazon removed 1 million products that claimed to cure the virus and thousands of listings that were price gouging.
I'm demanding Craigslist immediately remove posts that try to unlawfully profit off consumers' fears around the #coronavirus & ensure the company has policies in place to stop scammers.
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) March 20, 2020
I won't hesitate to take action against those who use this crisis as a get-rich-quick scheme.
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