コロナで消費者被害、８７人検挙　マスク転売やヤミ金―警察庁

　新型コロナウイルスに関連して消費者らが被害に遭ったとして、警察が昨年１年間に摘発した事件が４５件に上ることが２５日、警察庁のまとめで分かった。マスクの高額転売や未承認薬の広告、資金繰りが悪化した経営者への違法なヤミ金などで、１３法人と８７人が検挙された。
　マスクとアルコール消毒液は昨年３～８月、品薄状態となったため国民生活安定緊急措置法に基づき高額転売が禁じられ、警察は２５人を検挙した。新型コロナに効果があるとうたった未承認薬を広告したなどとして、医薬品医療機器法違反で検挙したのは２８人だった。
　資金繰りが悪化した飲食店経営者らに金を貸し付け、法定の上限を大幅に超える利息を受け取るなどしたヤミ金事件では２３人を検挙。給与を受け取る権利などの債権を現金化する「ファクタリング」や、インターネット交流サイト（ＳＮＳ）を利用するといった新たな手口も見られた。（2021/03/25-10:15）

Japanese police uncovered 45 criminal incidents in 2020 in which consumers fell victim to scams related to the novel coronavirus crisis, National Police Agency data showed Thursday.
   The police arrested or took other necessary actions against 87 people and 13 corporations involved in the cases, including reselling face masks at excessively high prices, advertising unapproved drugs and illegal lending to cash-strapped businesses.
   Of the 87 people, 25 were believed to have violated the emergency measures law for stabilizing living conditions of the public, which banned the resale of face masks and alcohol disinfectants at excessively high prices from March to August last year, when such products were in short supply.
   Meanwhile, 28 people were suspected of breaching the pharmaceuticals and medical devices law, mainly by claiming in advertisements that drugs were effective against the novel coronavirus though they had not been approved as COVID-19 remedies.
   The police found 23 people engaged in loan shark activities, such as lending at interest far exceeding the legal limit to restaurant owners and others struggling financially amid the crisis.