DOJ Targets Fake COVID-19 Vaccine Kit Website

The Department of Justice has taken its first enforcement action for fraud related to COVID-19 vaccine kits, taking a website operator to court for allegedly conducting a wire fraud scheme.

The DOJ sued the operator of the website coronavirusmedicalkit.com in a Texas federal court for offering access to “free” World Health Organization vaccine kits in exchange for a shipping charge.

The complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas alleges that the website’s operator, identified as NameCheap, deceptively claimed that the WHO is offering free vaccine kits to consumers in exchange for paying $4.95 in shipping costs.

U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman issued a restraining order blocking public access to the website.