On January 28, 2021, health workers will perform a PCR test at a Covid-19 diagnostic center at El Alto International Airport, Bolivia.
AIZAR RALDES | AFP | Getty Images
Illegal sales of false-negative Covid-19 test results are widening because, according to Europol, criminals benefit from travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic.
The EU’s law enforcement agency on Monday sold an increase in cases of fraudulent Covid-19 test certificates to travelers. It is an increasing number of countries in the European Union and beyond that are forcing travelers to offer a negative coronavirus test to be allowed when traveling from a high-risk area.
In its latest early warning notice, issued by Europol to warn EU member states about new or increasingly common criminal activities, the agency said the latest case of this crime was detected at Luton Airport in the UK, where ‘ a man has been arrested for selling fake coronavirus test results. Elsewhere in the UK, fraudsters were caught selling counterfeit Covid-19 test documents for £ 100 ($ 137).
There have also been earlier reports of similar activities in other European countries.
A forgery at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, for example, was ‘broken down’ after it was found to have sold falsified negative test results to passengers, Europol said. The amount charged for the false test documents ranged from 150-300 euros ($ 181- $ 363).
Another fraudster was arrested in Spain for selling false negative test certificates for 40 euros on the internet, and in the Netherlands, fraudsters were discovered selling false negative test results for 50-60 euros through messaging programs.
“As long as travel restrictions apply due to the Covid-19 situation, it is very likely that production and sale of fake test certificates will apply,” Europol added.
“Given the widespread technological means available, in the form of high quality printers and various software, fraudsters can produce high quality counterfeit, forged or counterfeit documents.”
False test results are just one example of a series of fraudulent activities that took place during the pandemic. Fake coronavirus test kits have been sold and online scams have increased during the health crisis, with criminals exploiting millions of people now working from home.
Other criminals have sought to take advantage of government programs to support people during the pandemic, such as further payment schemes. Last September, the UK tax office said it believed up to £ 3.5bn in payments could be fraudulently claimed, or misappropriated, as part of the UK’s Retention Scheme.