Covid-19: Criminals are selling fake test certificates, Europol says

Angus Crawford. Editor: Tony Smith

BBC.

Europol, the EU's law enforcement agency, has issued a warning that criminals are selling fake negative Covid-19 test certificates.

The fear is this could enable people to cheat travel restrictions.

It comes as an investigation by BBC News has found falsified NHS certificates for sale online.

There are also ones from clinics in Nigeria sold in forums used by organised crime groups.

As if there isn’t enough worry over international travel and emerging variants of COVID-19, European police are warning that fraudulent test certificates are being sold to international travellers to skirt pandemic restrictions.

Illicit sales of fake certificates declaring passengers have tested negative for COVID-19 have been uncovered in Britain, France, Spain and the Netherlands, resulting in arrests, including some inside airports.

The latest known arrest in a certificate scam in Europe was Jan. 22 in Britain’s London Luton Airport. The airport, north of London, hosts flights to cities in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, several of which require travellers to have proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test to enter.

The man was arrested for suspected fraud by false representation.