Fake coronavirus masks flogged on Instagram as 10,000 Chinese scam accounts flood market with potentially dangerous gear
THOUSANDS of Instagram accounts are flogging fake coronavirus masks that are potentially lethal, it was reported.
A new study has found that at least 10,450 accounts on the social media site have emerged in the past few months, most of which appear to be based in China.
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The report, from social media analysts Ghost Data, comes after Facebook, Instagram’s parent company, banned ads and listings that sell medical face masks.
With the global demand for face masks soaring in the Covid-19 pandemic, so the number of unscrupulous companies offering fakes also appears to be rising.
The Instagram accounts selling the masks appear through a main page or by using the app’s features including Stories, where posts vanish after 24 hours, or live video,
Some accounts previously sold pleated skirts and sports shoes before switching to surgical masks and hand sanitiser.
Ghost Data said that while some of the vendors on Instagram could legitimately be selling protective gear at a fair price, many others are likely scammers.
“There are no guarantees that advertised products are genuine and safe, not to mention the possibility of health and safety threats for a potential buyer,” they wrote.
Instagram removed several accounts that were brought to its attention by the Wall Street Journal for violating its rules.
“We’re focused on preventing exploitation of this crisis and have removed many of the accounts and blocked many hashtags included in this report,” said a spokeswoman.
“We use several automated detection mechanisms to block or remove this material from our platform.”
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