The epidemic has led to new frauds. Consumers said they ordered rapid test kits or quote "miracle drug" for COVID-19 online and received nothing but junk.
The advertisement says that the new COVID-19 special oral drug was urgently launched, with a cure rate of 89 percent, and can effectively reduce hospitalization and mortality. The production is limited to 10,000 boxes and comes with free shipping. Buyers received an empty box full of waste paper instead. Additionally, an advertisement for the sale of quick screening tests appeared on Facebook. A box with five tests only costs NT$450. Buyers thought they were cheap, but after paying the money, they instead received two water tumblers. The website has already been deleted. The epidemic has raised the number of frauds. Taichung City police have constantly received fraud reports from the public.
Hsieh Chih-yuan, Captain, Economic Section, Criminal Investigation Corps, Taichung: “People reported a fraud syndicate selling special drugs for COVID through a one-page ad. The ad links to a fake website, tricking people into buying. Customers later receive an empty box full of waste paper.”
The Taichung City Government stated that the goods sold do not match what's advertised on the website. In addition to criminal fraud, drugs and medical equipment cannot be sold on the internet. According to the Medical Devices Act, violators face a prison term of up to three years and a fine of not exceeding NT$10 million. A fine of NT$30,000 to NT$1 million may be further imposed on sellers who fail to obtain the qualification of a medical equipment dealer.
Lin Huang-chun, Leader, Cosmetics Section, Office of Food and Drug Safety, Taichung: “When purchasing medical equipment, you should clearly see if the medical device license number is on the product packaging, product name, and other Chinese labels. And read the product manual carefully before using it.”
The police reminded that one-page fraud ads usually only leave e-mail or communication software accounts, with no company address or phone number. The product's price is significantly lower than the market price, and most of the webpage is mixed with simplified characters. If you receive something that does not match the product indicated on the website, you should report it to the home delivery provider as soon as possible, and call the seller on the delivery note to ask for a return.
廣告上寫著「新冠口服特效藥」緊急上市，治癒率達89%，還能有效減輕住院及死亡率，限量1萬盒又免運費，民眾購買後，卻收到塞滿廢紙的空盒子。另外臉書上還出現販售快篩試劑的廣告，一盒5支只要450元，民眾以為撿到便宜，付錢之後竟然收到2個水杯，回頭查看網頁已遭刪除。疫情拉警報，詐騙內容搭著時事，台中警方陸續接到民眾檢舉詐騙。
市刑大經濟組組長謝志遠表示：「民眾檢舉有不肖的詐騙集團，透過一頁式的廣告，販賣新冠肺炎的特效藥，連結到假網站誘騙民眾來購買，民眾事後卻收到一只塞滿廢紙的空盒子。」
台中市府表示，販賣商品與網頁標示不符，除了涉嫌刑法詐欺罪，另外藥品與醫療器材不能隨意在網路上販售，依醫療器材管理法最重處3年以下有期徒刑，得併科1000萬元以下罰金，未取得醫療器材商資格，可再裁處3到100萬元。
台中市食藥處藥粧組長林晃群提醒民眾：「在購買醫療器材時，一定要看清楚產品外包裝，是否載明醫療器材許可證字號及品名等中文標示，並在使用時詳閱產品說明書。」
警方也提醒，一頁式詐騙廣告通常只留電子信箱或通訊軟體帳號、沒有公司地址電話，售價明顯低於市場行情，網頁大多粗糙或夾雜簡體字等特徵，萬一收到與網頁標示商品不符的東西，應儘速向宅配業者反映，同時撥打配送單上寄件人電話，辦理退貨。
