CBI’s alerts States on online payment scams, use of methanol for counterfeiting sanitizers

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued alerts to all State/UT Police Agencies based on the inputs received from Interpol relating to online advance payment scams and use of methanol for counterfeiting hand sanitizers. CBI has issued an alert regarding proliferation of online advance payment scams. Such scams involve instances of criminals approaching as vendors of PPE and other protective equipment suppliers related to COVID-19 pandemic and entering business transactions with clients online. After receipt of payment via bank transfers, the fraudulent vendors do not make any delivery of items. CBI has issued an alert based on inputs received from Interpol of instances in other countries of use of methanol for preparing spurious hand sanitizers. Instances have been reported in other countries where due to huge demand for hand sanitizers during Covid-19 pandemic, use of methanol was detected to produce counterfeit hand sanitizers. Methanol can be highly toxic and dangerous for the human body.