Malaysians Have Collectively Lost Over RM2.5 Million To Scammers Selling Face Masks

Credit: Vera Davidova/Unsplash

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With the advent of the pandemic, Malaysians have been adamant at keeping themselves safe from microbial harm by stocking up on all the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies. But this paranoia however has created the perfect ground for criminals to thrive.

The Kuala Lumpur police are investigating cases of face masks scams and fraud amounting to more than RM2.5 million.

Since January, police have recorded an increase in fraudulent sales of face masks, gloves, and hand sanitizers involving customers who are duped out of their cash without receiving the items that they’ve ordered.

These PPE scammers mostly operate on online sales platforms and social media applications and would usually disappear as soon as a customer transfers them money.

Addressing the matter, police urged the public to be more careful with their purchases and only buy items from trusted merchants and sellers.

As an added measure, members of the public can review a seller’s authenticity on the Companies Commission of Malaysia’s (SSM) website or through PDRM’s ‘scammer detector’ website or mobile app.