Residents line up to buy face masks amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, Hong Kong, Feb 3, 2020. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong police said it had received 109 reports of fraud involving the online sale of face masks worth a total of HK$580,000 (US$74,700) as of Wednesday as the city faces an acute shortage of masks amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

In most of the cases, buyers never received the masks that they had paid for

Police said six men and two women have been arrested on suspicion of obtaining property by deception. In most of the cases, buyers never received the masks that they had paid for.

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Police called on members of the public to ascertain the credibility of the sellers before making payment. They may call the anti-scam hotline, 18222, when in doubt, police said.

Hong Kong residents have scrambled for surgical masks as concerns over the coronavirus outbreak fueled a shortage of the product.

The special administrative region’s government has pledged to source face masks from around the world to meet local demand.

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