Health professionals perform a PCR test at a Covid-19 diagnostic center at El Alto International Airport, Bolivia, on January 28, 2021.
AIZAR RALDES | AFP | Getty Images
Illicit sales of false negative results from the Covid-19 test are becoming more widespread as criminals seek to profit from travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic, according to Europol.
The EU law enforcement agency on Monday reported an increase in cases of fraudulent Covid-19 test certificates sold to travelers. An increasing number of countries in the European Union and others are obliging travelers to submit a negative coronavirus test in order to enter when traveling from high-risk areas.
In its latest Early Warning Notification, which Europol issues to alert EU member states of new or increasingly common forms of criminal activity, the agency said the latest case of this crime was detected at Luton Airport in the UK , where a man was arrested for selling fake coronavirus test results. Elsewhere in the UK, fraudsters have been caught selling fake Covid-19 test papers for £ 100 ($ 137).
There have also been previous reports of similar activities in other European countries.
A counterfeit ring at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, for example, was “dismantled” after being found selling counterfeit negative test results to passengers, Europol said. The amount charged for the fake test documents ranged between 150-300 euros ($ 181- $ 363).
Another fraudster was arrested in Spain for selling fake negative test certificates on the internet for 40 euros, and in the Netherlands, scammers were discovered selling fake negative test results for 50-60 euros through messaging apps.
“As long as travel restrictions remain in place due to the Covid-19 situation, it is highly likely that the production and sale of fake test certificates will prevail,” added Europol.
“Given the widely available technological means, in the form of high-quality printers and different software, fraudsters are able to produce high-quality forged, falsified or forged documents.”
False test results are just one example of a series of fraudulent activities that emerged during the pandemic. Fake coronavirus test kits were sold and online fraud increased during the health crisis, with criminals exploiting millions of people who now work from home.
Other criminals tried to take advantage of government programs to support people during the pandemic, such as license payment schemes. Last September, Britain’s tax office said it believed that up to £ 3.5 billion in payments could have been fraudulently claimed, or paid in error, as part of the UK job retention scheme.