Man Arrested Over 'million-dollar Face Mask Scam'

Police said on Wednesday that they had arrested a 40-year-old man suspected of cheating more than a hundred people in a face mask scam that netted almost HK$1 million.

Officers said averts on social media offered masks from Japan at prices below market rates, now such products have become scarce due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Boxes of 50 masks were available for HK$55, the Facebook advert claimed.

But police said that once customers completed bank transfers for bulk orders, the "seller" took the money and disappeared.

The force said 103 people fell for the scam, handing over HK$950,000 between them. One victim alone lost HK$186,000, officers said.

They added that they believe more than one person was involved in the fraud and further arrests could be made.