'Corona criminals' prey on Europe's virus fearsCriminals are finding burglary and drug smuggling difficult due to the coronavirus -- so they are going onlineTHE HAGUE - From trafficking dodgy surgical masks to peddling counterfeit medicines and running internet scams, criminals are finding ways to profit from the coronavirus crisis, European police warn. Instead they are preying on people's fears of the COVID-19 pandemic to sell them substandard protective goods or trick people out of their cash online, warned Europe's police agency Europol. "Criminals are just interested in one question: 'how can I make more money? Police around the world seized 34,000 counterfeit surgical masks in one major operation targeting so-called "corona criminals" earlier this month, Europol said in a report Friday. With families confined to their homes, there are also fears of a surge in domestic violence.

Source: Bangkok Post March 28, 2020 05:37 UTC