<p>From fake medicines to fire extinguishers disguised as oxygen cylinders and recycled personal protective equipment, India's coronavirus hell has been lucrative for its ever-inventive army of scammers, with sometimes deadly consequences.</p>.<p>Komal Taneja's husband Chandrakant died gasping for breath at his New Delhi home last month after the oxygen canister that they paid Rs 15,000 for on the internet never arrived.</p>.<p>"We desperately tried to find a hospital bed for a week... Two private hospitals asked us for Rs 10 lakh in advance," Komal, her voice cracking on the phone, told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-unlikely-to-get-much-out-of-us-vaccine-allocation-in-first-tranche-993510.html" target="_blank">India unlikely to get much out of US vaccine allocation in first tranche </a></strong></p>.<p>"Then we came across a contact online promising an oxygen cylinder delivery within an hour of making the Rs 15,000 payment. When we did, they asked for more money, and then stopped responding," Komal added.</p>.<p>Chandrakant, 36, who worked at the stock market, died on May 1, leaving his homemaker wife looking for a job to help look after his ailing parents.</p>.<p>India has a long history of audacious scams ripping off ordinary people, including beyond its borders.</p>.<p>In just one typical case, in December police busted a call centre that allegedly defrauded 4,500 Americans out of Rs 1.4 crore.</p>.<p>Impersonating US officials, they told victims that their bank accounts were being used by drug cartels and that the only option was to convert their assets into bitcoin -- which the gang would then cash in.</p>.<p>One elaborate scam involving police and doctors that emerged in 2019 saw hundreds of villagers in Haryana declared dead in road accidents to claim insurance.</p>.<p>Investigators say many scammers have turned their attention to ripping off desperate Covid-19 patients and relatives as India suffers a devastating coronavirus surge.</p>.<p>Narang, a private company executive in Noida, said he was swindled by a sophisticated scam when he was desperately looking for an oxygen concentrator for a sick friend.</p>.<p>"I came across a link for a supplier which looked genuine, and even had a catalogue with different models. The prices too were competitive," Narang told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p>"I spoke with a person on the phone. He asked for about Rs 45,000 in two instalments. I was sure it was genuine and even recommended this supplier to another acquaintance.</p>.<p>The device never arrived.</p>.<p>His case is one of at least 600 investigations launched by police in New Delhi alone in recent weeks with people desperately looking for oxygen, hospital beds and drugs.</p>.<p>"These criminals saw it as an opportune moment to make an entry," senior Delhi police officer Shibesh Singh told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/australia-detects-delta-covid-19-variant-in-victoria-993593.html" target="_blank">Australia detects Delta Covid-19 variant in Victoria </a></strong></p>.<p>His Crime Branch teams have already arrested many scammers, including a gang that made and sold counterfeit doses of the antiviral drug Remdesivir for up to 40 times the market price.</p>.<p>"These people were producing fake vials which cost them about Rs 20 and (they) sold it in the market for anything above Rs 10,000," Singh said.</p>.<p>In another case, a gang repainted fire extinguishers and sold them as oxygen cylinders, while another posed as doctors offering non-existent hospital beds.</p>.<p>This week, six men were reportedly arrested on suspicion of washing, repackaging and selling several tonnes of used surgical gloves from hospitals.</p>.<p>"We can only urge the people to be extra cautious while approaching such contacts for online help," Singh said.</p>.<p>Some victims are demanding tough punishments.</p>.<p>"Hang them all," said Narang.</p>.<p>"If not that, then the government should ensure life imprisonment. This isn't just mental or financial, they are playing with human life."</p>
<p>From fake medicines to fire extinguishers disguised as oxygen cylinders and recycled personal protective equipment, India's coronavirus hell has been lucrative for its ever-inventive army of scammers, with sometimes deadly consequences.</p>.<p>Komal Taneja's husband Chandrakant died gasping for breath at his New Delhi home last month after the oxygen canister that they paid Rs 15,000 for on the internet never arrived.</p>.<p>"We desperately tried to find a hospital bed for a week... Two private hospitals asked us for Rs 10 lakh in advance," Komal, her voice cracking on the phone, told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-unlikely-to-get-much-out-of-us-vaccine-allocation-in-first-tranche-993510.html" target="_blank">India unlikely to get much out of US vaccine allocation in first tranche </a></strong></p>.<p>"Then we came across a contact online promising an oxygen cylinder delivery within an hour of making the Rs 15,000 payment. When we did, they asked for more money, and then stopped responding," Komal added.</p>.<p>Chandrakant, 36, who worked at the stock market, died on May 1, leaving his homemaker wife looking for a job to help look after his ailing parents.</p>.<p>India has a long history of audacious scams ripping off ordinary people, including beyond its borders.</p>.<p>In just one typical case, in December police busted a call centre that allegedly defrauded 4,500 Americans out of Rs 1.4 crore.</p>.<p>Impersonating US officials, they told victims that their bank accounts were being used by drug cartels and that the only option was to convert their assets into bitcoin -- which the gang would then cash in.</p>.<p>One elaborate scam involving police and doctors that emerged in 2019 saw hundreds of villagers in Haryana declared dead in road accidents to claim insurance.</p>.<p>Investigators say many scammers have turned their attention to ripping off desperate Covid-19 patients and relatives as India suffers a devastating coronavirus surge.</p>.<p>Narang, a private company executive in Noida, said he was swindled by a sophisticated scam when he was desperately looking for an oxygen concentrator for a sick friend.</p>.<p>"I came across a link for a supplier which looked genuine, and even had a catalogue with different models. The prices too were competitive," Narang told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p>"I spoke with a person on the phone. He asked for about Rs 45,000 in two instalments. I was sure it was genuine and even recommended this supplier to another acquaintance.</p>.<p>The device never arrived.</p>.<p>His case is one of at least 600 investigations launched by police in New Delhi alone in recent weeks with people desperately looking for oxygen, hospital beds and drugs.</p>.<p>"These criminals saw it as an opportune moment to make an entry," senior Delhi police officer Shibesh Singh told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/australia-detects-delta-covid-19-variant-in-victoria-993593.html" target="_blank">Australia detects Delta Covid-19 variant in Victoria </a></strong></p>.<p>His Crime Branch teams have already arrested many scammers, including a gang that made and sold counterfeit doses of the antiviral drug Remdesivir for up to 40 times the market price.</p>.<p>"These people were producing fake vials which cost them about Rs 20 and (they) sold it in the market for anything above Rs 10,000," Singh said.</p>.<p>In another case, a gang repainted fire extinguishers and sold them as oxygen cylinders, while another posed as doctors offering non-existent hospital beds.</p>.<p>This week, six men were reportedly arrested on suspicion of washing, repackaging and selling several tonnes of used surgical gloves from hospitals.</p>.<p>"We can only urge the people to be extra cautious while approaching such contacts for online help," Singh said.</p>.<p>Some victims are demanding tough punishments.</p>.<p>"Hang them all," said Narang.</p>.<p>"If not that, then the government should ensure life imprisonment. This isn't just mental or financial, they are playing with human life."</p>