3M, parent company of Top 40 promotional products supplier 3M/Promotional Markets (asi/91240), collaborated with federal authorities on an investigation that led to the seizure of more than one million suspected counterfeit N95 respirator masks.

The seizure came after the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky granted 3M a temporary restraining order that stopped Lexington, KY-based Old World Timber from selling the alleged knock-off N95s.

3M’s N95 masks have been in high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they help protect against the spread of the virus.

“3M will continue to take action against those who sell fake products and put lives at risk during the pandemic,” said Kevin Rhodes, 3M senior vice president and deputy general counsel. “We will continue to offer our resources to check suspicious offers and get counterfeit products off the market.”

Old World Timber, which offers reclaimed wood designs for commercial and residential projects, released a statement to WKYT.

“On June 4, 2021, the U.S. Marshals seized masks from Old World Timber,” the statement began. “Old World Timber has no interest in purchasing, marketing or selling counterfeit masks. The 3M complaint presents only one side of the case. Old World Timber is actively working with 3M to reach a settlement of the case. In light of the active settlement negotiations in the case, OWT cannot comment further.”

3M reports that it worked with the U.S. Marshals Service on the case, which started when prospective customers contacted the Minnesota-headquartered corporation’s fraud hotline to check on the authenticity of sales documents from Old World Timber. 3M asserts that it determined the documents and respirator mask products on offer from the company were fake.

Since the onset of the pandemic, 3M says it has seized more than 41 million counterfeit N95 respirators in collaboration with law enforcement and customs agencies around the world.

Relatedly, the company has investigated more than 14,000 fraud reports to its fraud hotlines globally, and has filed 36 lawsuits to stop those attempting to profiteer from the pandemic demand for critical supplies. Meanwhile, 3M reports that it has identified and removed more than 20,000 false or deceptive social media posts and more than 21,000 fraudulent e-commerce offers. Some 315 deceptive domain names have been taken down.

Those with tips about potential fraud can call (800) 426-8688 in the U.S. or go to www.3m.com/covidfraud.