According to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the global pandemic has sparked an uptick in artificial protective gear as scammers misuse the coronavirus for advantage. The supply chain management crypto and blockchain platform VeChain intends to restrict the spread of fraudulent face masks by coupling up with Chinese and American companies.

Hospitals over the US are reliant on massive shipments from China due to a shortage of masks and other protective gear that’s not produced domestically. VeChain is operating hand in hand with production facilities to ensure that new KN95 masks shipped from China are authentic, reports The Street.

Each box shipped from China appears with a VeChain NFT (non-fungible token) chip, as well as a two-factor authentication QR code to confirm the legitimacy of the product.

Real Items, a San Francisco start-up, utilizes a two-factor authentication QR code to register the product’s details onto the VeChain blockchain. It traces individual data like product ownership and place of production to assure that the masks are legit.

Retailers and healthcare facilities can scan a QR code on the product packaging utilizing a mobile phone camera or the WeChat app to verify the authenticity of the KN95 masks from Real Items partner Tricol Group, one of the biggest microfiber manufacturers in Asia.

The scan also unveils essential information about the KN95 masks, including time and place of production, as well as logistical points along the supply chain. Technological advancements aside, nevertheless, the Wall Street Journal publishes that new trade constraints forced by China have suspended shipments to the US containing millions of masks and other critical medical equipment. As hospitals and governments battle to obtain the required equipment to defend healthcare workers, American companies are reportedly operating with the Chinese government to solve issues unveiled by suppliers and brokers over the supply chain.