A mum said she was disgusted that people appear to be buying 'hidden disability' lanyards online to get out of wearing a mask.
On Tuesday Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed that face masks will be mandatory in shops from July 24.
The law will be enforced by the police but certain people will be exempt from the rules, including children under 11 and those with certain disabilities.
But now there are reports of people pretending to have autism and similar conditions in order to avoid wearing masks, exploiting special lanyards designed to help those with invisible disabilities like autism.
The Sunflower Scheme is a discreet way for people with invisible disabilities to indicate they may need a bit of extra time and help in certain situations by wearing a lanyard with sunflowers on it, Edinburgh Live reports.
The scheme, launched in 2016, is recognised by all major UK airports, railway stations, many supermarkets, leisure facilities, and by the NHS.
Since the coronavirus pandemic the sunflower scheme have started printing a 'face covering exempt' card for people who are exempt.
The lanyards and cards are usually given out free by local charity groups to people who are exempt from wearing face masks, but can also be purchased online for a nominal fee.
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But now they are for sale on eBay and one Edinburgh mum has claimed people without disabilities are using them to get out of wearing a mask simply because they don't want to.
The woman, who did not wish to be named said: "I am disgusted with the surge of people wanting sunflower lanyards only because they do not agree with having to wear a face covering."
The lanyards are currently selling on eBay for £8.99 - meanwhile the hidden disabilities organisation, which sells the cards online for 55 pence each and not for re-sale, is currently out of stock.
The mum of two said people were abusing a system meant to help those who needed it, adding: "I'd never be stooping as low as to say, 'give me a sunflower lanyard I don't want to wear a mask'."
Listings on eBay for the lanyards advertise them as "a must have for any charity collector".
One such seller appears to have sold 31 of the lanyards at £8.99 each netting themselves £278.69 in the process.
