Fake Cops Fine Virus Mask Tourists Amid Burqa Ban Claims

Story By: Ernest Bio BogoreSub-EditorJoseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

Fake French cops have swindled Chinese students by fining them 150 EUR for violating the country’s ‘burqa ban’ by wearing face masks during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Chinese embassy in France confirmed that an unspecified number of students had been swindled by the fake officers whilst wearing the masks.

The fake cops, the number of whom worked in the scam has not been specified, reportedly fined the students under law No. 2010-1192 of 11th October 2010, which forbids those in France from wearing “an outfit designed to conceal one’s face”.

According to the Chinese embassy in France, “These students […] were fined 150 EUR (130 GBP) by ‘police officers’ for violating the law prohibiting the concealment of the face in the public space.

On its website, the embassy continues: “After checking with the French police and justice system, these are criminals posing as policemen. Wearing a mask for health reasons is absolutely not illegal.”

The Chinese embassy has also reported on criminals using the identity of health service agents to fraudulently enter the homes of Chinese nationals living in France and commit theft.

The embassy is calling on the Chinese to “be on their guard” against those who claim to act in the name of preventive measures against the coronavirus.

Local media report the Asian community in the Paris region has been the target of fraudulent attacks during the COVID-19 outbreak.

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