Coronavirus: face masks, ventilators with fake certificates pushed by scammers as demand for Chinese medical supplies booms
- Desperate buyers are forking out huge sums for medical supplies from China to help fight the coronavirus pandemic
- Con artists are feeding off the boom, luring in unsuspecting buyers with false paperwork and promises of quick shipments
When the governor of Arizona declared a Covid-19 emergency in March, China-based game designer Simon Chioni decided to buy masks to send home to his family. Little did he know how hard it would be.
The problem was not finding vendors – there were plenty online. But those he contacted were evasive about the specs and quality of their products, quoted huge mark-ups, wanted to charge extra for a small order, and asked him to handle shipping to the United States.
“[People back home] said it sounded like too much trouble to bother with,” said Chioni, who asked to use a pseudonym out of concern speaking publicly might affect his employment.
A month later he gave up. He was out of his depth, and he was not alone.
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Face mask shortage amid coronavirus pandemic reminds world of China’s manufacturing dominance