While there is still no vaccine for coronavirus, the World Health Organision recommends wearing surgical masks, thoroughly washing hands, social-distancing and sterilization to prevent infection. In Mongolia, as in other east Asian countries, wearing face masks is standard practice. However, demand has been outstripping supply: pharmacies in Mongolia have been running out of face masks as soon as they are delivered in the early morning. It is hardly surprising that some Mongolians have become victims of mask fraud. For example, a Mongolian in Erenhot in China’s Inner Mongolia was swindled when he paid MNT 8,4 million by electronic transfer for bulk buying  masks on 31 January.

Worse still, two Mongolians lost MNT 117 million for transferring money to a German Company as an advance to bulk buy masks on 2 March. They found the company via an online advertisement.