Mask scam in Hong Kong preying on coronavirus desperation cons seven people out of HK$3 million
- Woman, 31, arrested in Tsing Yi on Saturday for obtaining property by deception
- Police believe there could be more victims of the con targeting people trying to protect themselves from Covid-19
Police said they received reports this week of a woman calling people up in February claiming to have masks for sale, before seeking a down payment in cash from those who were interested.
“But after the victims paid the deposits, they did not receive the goods and could not contact the seller,” a police statement said. “They suspected they were being cheated, so reported their cases to the force.”
Sharing the wealth: Hongkongers take matters into own hands over mask shortage
Officers believe there are at least seven victims of the con, losing more than HK$3 million in total.
They arrested a 31-year-old woman in Tsing Yi on Saturday afternoon for obtaining property by deception. A mobile phone and cash were also seized as evidence.
The outbreak of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, has triggered a shortage of masks in Hong Kong since late January, with desperate residents queuing for hours and looking overseas for supplies.