From the time the pandemic began, we have been warned about zooming cybercrime. As the outbreak has forced us to move from the real world and inhabit digital spaces, criminals shifted focus too, using cyber space as the new hunting ground, snaring people with wily cons. Several fell for these schemes, losing money in the process. Earlier edits had highlighted warnings by the cyber police about a surge in these crimes. We had also spoken about how quick reporting of such thefts makes it easier for the police to track the criminals and solve the case, returning your money.

While that is one kind of con, we are seeing large-scale scams as the pandemic takes a more desperate and deadly turn. Some rotten apples in the medical fraternity crate, doctors, paramedics, pharmacies, alternate medicine practitioners, laboratory employees have been caught milking the outbreak for money. From false reports, forgeries, hoarding, black marketing, wrong practices… we see several of these nabbed by the cops, under arrest, establishments temporarily shut down.