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IPOH: A total of 48 fraud cases involving the sale of face masks with estimated losses of RM39,322 have been reported in Perak during the Movement Control Order, which began on March 18.
Perak State Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Supt Hasbullah Abd Rahman said among the factors which led to many fraud cases was the high demand for face masks following the Covid-19 outbreak.
He said all the fraud cases involved complainants being duped by offers made on social media.
“The complainants then made online payments to the supposed sellers, but when the goods did not arrive, the complainants realised they had been deceived and subsequently lodged a police report,“ he said in a statement, here today.
Hasbullah said all the cases were being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
He advised the public to be careful and not to be hoodwinked by advertisements and offers for face masks on social media and other dubious websites.
“The public’s high reliance on online purchases has led some to take advantage of the situation to make easy money,“ he added. - Bernama
