AG Demands Crackdown On Craigslist Coronavirus Scammers

NEW YORK, NY — New York State Attorney General Letitia James called out popular online listing site Craigslist on Friday for allowing scammers and price gougers to profit off of people fearful of the outbreak of Coronavirus in New York.

James issued a statement Friday afternoon demanding that Craiglist immediately pull any listings related to coronavirus from its site. A quick scan of the website reveals people claiming to have stashes of coronavirus testing kits, hiking up prices on items such as hand sanitizer and even selling bogus cures or treatments boasting immunity to the virus.

One scam listing for a $40 "painless virus finger prick test kit" claims to be accurate 97% of the time. Another boasts: "Be the FIRST to be tested. I have 18 tests in hand, test will be sent via overnight mail to your door with the instructions" for the price of $45.

"Consumers go on Craigslist every day looking for values, but these items only aim to cheat consumers and profit off their fears surrounding the coronavirus," James said in a statement. “These fake products have no place in the marketplace or on a site that consumers trust for every day [sic] purchases."

The attorney general's office's statement reminds consumers that there is currently no FDA-approved vaccine for the novel coronavirus spreading throughout New York and the rest of the world.

In addition to removing scam posts, James wants Craigslist to crack down on price gougers. The attorney general's office claims that bottles of hand sanitizer were being advertised on the site for as much as $222. James' office has also been active in sanctioning brick-and-mortar stores attempting to profit off of similar high-demand items.

A request for comment sent to Craiglist was not immediately returned.

More than 5,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus, also referred to as COVID-19, in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday. Of those cases, 29 have been fatal so far, the mayor announced.

The quickly rising numbers spurred Gov. Andrew Cuomo Friday morning to issue a statewide stay-at-home order that will go into effect Sunday night.