Seoul Police Investigate 111 Cases of 'Mask Sales Fraud'... "Beware of Damage"

On the 10th, citizens are lining up to purchase public masks at a pharmacy in Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Amid the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), mask sales fraud crimes are rampant, requiring special caution.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency emphasized in a press release on the 10th, "When selling a large quantity of masks online or offline, or selling through open chat rooms or open markets that are not certified sales channels, there is a high possibility of fraud, so special caution is needed when making transactions."

The Seoul Police Agency is currently investigating a total of 111 cases of mask sales fraud, having booked 26 suspects and arrested 2. Mask sales fraud is carried out by luring victims with fake listings through internet cafes or social network service (SNS) chat rooms to steal money. The police also explained that there have been cases of manufacturing and distributing counterfeit health masks that were not certified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

In fact, the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul arrested one person who deceived others by claiming to sell 43,000 masks through a WeChat chat room and embezzled 110 million won.

The Mapo Police Station arrested one person who posted a sales post on an internet cafe stating "100,000 KF94 masks for 150 million won" and pocketed 22 million won, and is investigating a case where masks not certified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety were manufactured and sold on internet open markets using the trademark of authorized products.

Additionally, the Namdaemun Police Station is investigating a case where a person deceived an acquaintance introduced through a distributor by promising to supply 700,000 health masks and embezzled 415 million won.

The Seoul Police Agency stated, "We are strictly responding to mask sales fraud and hoarding, as well as overall disruptions to mask distribution order through online monitoring and on-site crackdowns in cooperation with related organizations such as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety," and added, "Sales fraud exploiting public anxiety about mask supply is rampant, so the public's special attention and caution are required to prevent damage."

Furthermore, they explained, "Under the government's emergency supply adjustment measures, more than 80% of the total mask production is supplied through public sales channels, and even in private transactions, quantities above a certain amount must be reported or pre-approved," and advised, "To prevent fraud damage, it is preferable to purchase masks through public sales channels such as pharmacies and post offices."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.