The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is issuing over $1 million in refunds to consumers who bought Zephyr face masks, which were falsely marketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The action follows an FTC case against Razer Inc., initiated in April 2024, where the company was accused of misleadingly advertising its Zephyr masks as N95 or equivalent. According to the FTC, these masks were neither tested by the FDA nor certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
The FTC will send checks and PayPal payments to 6,764 consumers who purchased these products, providing a full refund. Consumers are advised to cash their checks within 90 days or redeem their PayPal payments within 30 days.
For questions regarding payments, consumers can contact Simpluris at 1-833-285-3003 or visit the FTC's website for more information on the refund process. The FTC emphasizes that it does not require payment or account details from individuals to issue refunds.
The Commission also offers interactive dashboards with state-by-state breakdowns of refunds from various cases. In 2023 alone, FTC actions resulted in $330 million returned to consumers nationwide.
The Federal Trade Commission aims to promote competition while protecting and educating consumers. It assures that it will never request money, make threats, demand transfers, or promise prizes. More information on consumer issues and how to report scams can be found at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
