The elastic bands are actually removed or replaced. The distribution chain's fish seller claims it's Gaspé lobster, but there's no tag to prove it. The elastic bands bear the stamp of the chain's distributor, which handles all the logistics involved in allocating lots among the various stores.
The changes are made by the distributor in the logistics chain. It's the two elastic bands that are replaced. If the tag has fallen off, you'll see only one elastic band. The problem is that these are isolated cases. Sometimes elastic bands are replaced on half of the lobsters in the tank because they're Gaspé lobsters. The problem's really at the distributor level.