Police have so far received 109 reports of fraudulent claims in which victims lost contact with self-proclaimed surgical mask sellers after making pre-payments for the purchase.

Since late January, there have been scammers making claims through online shopping platforms that they have surgical masks for sale, taking advantage of the tight supply.

The 109 reports received as of yesterday involved a monetary loss of about $580,000. Six men and two women were arrested in connection with the deceptions.

The Cyber Security & Technology Crime Bureau is co-ordinating various police districts in devising strategies to combat the scams, such as enhancing intelligence gathering and cyber patrols.

Police noted that should the evidence warrant, timely law enforcement action will be taken, adding that active investigations are underway and further arrests are likely.

Those who have fallen victim to such scams should report to Police as soon as possible.

Members of the public are advised to find out more about the seller's credibility and verify their identity before conducting online transactions.

If in doubt, stop the transaction and call the Anti-Scam Helpline 18222.