Chinese police investigating app fraud case, says German drugmaker Merck KGaA

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SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Police in China are investigating an app fraud case, said German healthcare firm Merck KGaA, amid growing concerns over entities claiming affiliation with major corporations.

The Zibo police office in Shandong province had called the company over an investigation into an app fraud case, Merck KGaA said in a statement late on Monday.  Police did not provide details on the incident or number of people affected, it said.

The Zibo Public Security Bureau did not immediately respond to an online request for comment. 

Earlier this month, Merck said an app impersonating the firm had released false information about private investing and financing schemes which had caused financial losses to the public. 

That app was not affiliated with the company and promotional materials used in the app constituted misappropriation and fraud, it said at the time.

U.S. drugmaker Merck & Co similarly said last week that criminals had used the company’s name to carry out private investment and financing activities.

The company said it has not and would not engage in any form of private investment or financing activities targeting the public, and reported the issue to the public security authorities, the U.S. firm said last week.

(Reporting by Andrew Silver in Shanghai; Editing by Bernadette Baum)