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4:13 PM, Feb 27, 2020

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Michigan businesses accused of marketing phony 'coronavirus defender patch'

Posted at 5:59 PM, Mar 24, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-24 17:59:53-04

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel sent a cease and desist letter to two Michigan businesses for allegedly marketing a "Coronavirus Defender Patch."

The businesses, Frequency Apps Corp and Biores Technologies Inc. allegedly claim the patch will help protect people from contracting COVID-19 by "aiding the immune system to defend itself against exposure to the virus." They also allege that it can "help lessen the effect of the virus if you already have it."

The patch was reportedly priced at $49.99, but the companies allegedly said consumers could receive a 30-day suply of the patch for free when they buy a 45-day supply of any patches the companies sell.

“Providing consumers with a false sense of security that these patches could somehow protect them from this virus is simply wrong,” Nessel said in a press release. “I will not tolerate deceptive and misleading business practices at any time, but especially not during this time of uncertainty surrounding Michigan’s battle with COVID-19.”

As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, the Attorney General’s office had received a total of 1,578 complaints of price-gouging related to COVID-19.

Additional Coronavirus information and resources:

Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.

View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.

Find out how you can help restaurants struggling during the pandemic.

See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.