The deficiency has resulted in business opportunities for frauds who are targeting business giants as well as common people (Representative Image). | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Key Highlights On Saturday, a man was nabbed for allegedly duping a woman of around Rs 4 lakh The man cracked a deal with the woman and agreed to deliver Rs 1.6 face masks to her and an advance worth Rs 4 lakh had also been paid to him Some time later, the woman found out that the accused had given her fake information

Mumbai: The coronavirus outbreak in the world has reached India and over 100 cases have been confirmed. On Sunday, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare confirmed 110 new cases of COVID-19 virus. Out of these confirmed cases, 32 are from Maharashtra. As a result of the increasing number of cases, the fear in the minds of citizens is also rising.

As precautionary measures, people across the world are buying masks, hand sanitizers and soaps to shield themselves from coronavirus. This has resulted in a deficiency of supply across the globe.

The deficiency has resulted in business opportunities for frauds who are targeting business giants as well as common people. A case in Mumbai has exposed how the outbreak is being treated as a business opportunity by many persons.

Namrata Monacha, the owner of an export company fell victim to a fraud who duped her of Rs 4 lakh on the pretext of fulfilling an order of face masks. The accused man has been identified as Abrar Mustag Bodle.

Victim received orders from Oman and France

Namrata had received an order for facemasks from Oman and France, The Times of India reported. While looking for vendors, Namrata came across Bhakti Enterprises in Bhubaneshwar. She contacted the representative Abrar and asked him to send photographs of the mask.

The accused sent the GST number of his company, the ISO certificate along with the photographs and the deal was finalised. Namrata placed an order for 1.6 lakh masks worth Rs 14.4 lakh and paid Rs 4 lakh as advance.

False GST number, ISO certificate

The fraud came to light after Namrata's accountant checked the GST number and the ISO certificate and found it to be fake. The export company owner later discovered that the address of the shop was also fake. After realising that she had been duped, the woman approached the police. The police lodged a complaint with the police, following which, the accused was nabbed.