The Notices of Violation (NOVs) are the latest round of enforcement actions taken to protect consumers from those seeking to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID testing, in addition to vaccination, has been essential to New Jersey’s recent return to normalcy,” said Acting Attorney General Platkin. “While New Jersey residents have joined together in fighting COVID-19, unfortunately there are still some businesses seeking to profit unlawfully from the pandemic. Two years after the pandemic arrived in New Jersey, we still have zero tolerance for such conduct.”

The violations by the four pharmacies cited by the Division involve offering and selling COVID-19 test kits to the general public that were not authorized for at-home use, as well as failing to plainly mark or affix the price of a COVID test to the merchandise.

The pharmacies cited are:

• SLV Pharmacy, Inc., d/b/a Valley Pharmacy, en Succasunna, condado de Morris, que fue citada por ofrecer y vender kits de prueba de COVID-19 al público en general que no estaban autorizados para su uso en el hogar, y también por ofrecer y vendre pruebas para su uso doméstico sin el precio total de venta claramente marcado o colocado en la mercancía;
• Farmacia Sayreville en Monroe Township, Condado de Middlesex, que fue citada por ofrecer y vender kits de prueba de COVID-19 al público en general que no estaban autorizados para su uso en el hogar;
• Sanraj Inc., d/b/a Iselin Pharmacy, en Iselin, Condado de Middlesex, que fue citada por ofrecer y vender kits de prueba de COVID-19 al público en general que no estaban autorizados para su uso en el hogar; y
• Khawajarx, Inc., d/b/a Wellcare Pharmacy, en Union City, Condado de Hudson, que fue evaluada como una penalidad por ofrecer y vender kits de prueba de antígenos COVID-19 sin el precio total de venta claramente marcado o fijado en la mercancía.

“The Division is committed to enforcing the laws in place to protect consumers from unprincipled merchants,” said Acting Director Sean P. Neafsey. “We will continue to review and investigate complaints to keep the marketplace fair and honest.”

New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act protects consumers from deceptive conduct, misrepresentations and omissions, and other unconscionable business practices in connection with the sale of merchandise.

In addition to the assessed individual penalties that range from $500 to $5,000, the pharmacies must cease and desist from engaging in any practice in violation of the Consumer Fraud Act.

To date, the Division has sent 1961 cease and desist letters to retailers suspected of price gouging and other unconscionable business practices during the coronavirus pandemic, and issued over 100 subpoenas seeking additional information in its investigations of alleged violations of the Consumer Fraud Act. Previous enforcement actions also include NOVs against a dozen merchants over consumer fraud violations related to COVID-19 with civil penalties totaling tens of thousands of dollars.  In January, the Division sent more than 50 warning letters to businesses whose prices for COVID-19 test kits generated consumer complaints.

As infection rates remain low and residents continue to use testing to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Division encourages consumers to stay alert and follow these tips as they consider available testing options:

• Encuentra dónde hacerse la prueba. El Centro de COVID-19 de Nueva Jersey tiene una lista de sitios de pruebas públicas, incluidas las pruebas gratuitas (si están disponibles). Encuentre un Centro de Salud Federal Calificado cerca de usted, ya sea que tenga un seguro de salud o no y independientemente de su estatus migratorio, con esta herramienta de búsqueda.
• Utilice sus beneficios de seguro. Muchas compañías de seguros cubren las pruebas de COVID-19 en el hogar. Consulte con su plan de salud para comprender las opciones de pruebas disponibles.
• Verifique las afirmaciones. Consulte la página web de la FDA para obtener una lista de antígenos y diagnósticos moleculares autorizados Evite comprar pruebas que no hayan recibido autorización, ya que pueden no dar resultados precisos.
• Investiga antes de comprar. Solo realice compras y comparta su información personal con personas y empresas que conoce y en las que confía.

Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of consumer abuse, can file an online complaint with the Division online or by calling 1-800-242-5846 to receive a complaint form by mail.