‘Heartless’ online scammers and hackers take advantage of coronavirus fears, mask shortages in China

Over 7,500 coronavirus-related fraud cases have been reported in China as of Feb 24. Most of these involve face masks, which have become scarce as demand far exceeds supply. — SCMP

Chen Xiaobai, a graphic designer from Changsha city in southern China’s Hunan province, has been running a WeChat group since the beginning of February called The Victims of Online Masks Fraud.

The group has attracted about 170 members, all of whom had been cheated of money while trying to purchase face masks online to protect themselves or other people from the spread of the novel coronavirus.