Selling Used Mask Ear Strap Replacement... Mass Prosecution of Mask Sales Fraudsters

Published 03 Jul.2020 15:00(KST)

Masks for droplet protection and KF94 masks. Photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Thirteen individuals have been indicted for committing related crimes such as deceiving people into thinking they were selling masks online to exploit the surge in mask demand due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), or manufacturing masks by recycling used masks.

The COVID-19 Investigation Response Team (Team Leader, Chief Prosecutor Lee Gon-hyung) at the Cheonan Branch of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office announced on the 3rd that from January 31 to February 3, three people including A (27), who opened an online shopping mall and fraudulently obtained approximately 87.8 million KRW from 282 people by pretending to sell masks, were arrested and indicted on charges of fraud, and two others including B (26) were indicted without detention on the same charges.

Additionally, two people including C (19), who defrauded four people of 950,000 KRW by pretending to sell masks between March 2 and 7, were also indicted without detention.

From March 10 to May 4, four people including unregistered manufacturer D (60), who produced 4,500 masks by recycling used masks and attaching new earring strings, and E (31), who falsely advertised and sold unauthorized masks as if approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, were also indicted without detention on charges of fraud.

Furthermore, two people including F (44), who stole masks or used others' personal information when purchasing masks, were indicted without detention on charges such as theft.