EUROPOL’s Early Warning Notification – Illicit Sales of False Negative Covid-19 Test Certificates
To contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, an increasing number of countries in the EU and beyond are obliging passengers to present a proof of negative COVID-19 test to be allowed entry when travelling from a high-risk area. The measure generally concerns passengers travelling by air and in some cases, international train and coach traffic.
Several cases have emerged in open sources of fraudulent COVID-19 test certificates being sold to travellers. The latest case of detected bogus test certificates was reported from Luton Airport in the UK when a man was arrested trying to sell false COVID-19 test certificates.
Earlier reports included the arrest of a forgery ring at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris selling forged negative test results to passengers. The amount charged for the fake test documents ranged between EUR 150 to EUR 3002. Intelligence suggests that in the UK, fraudsters were caught selling bogus COVID-19 test documents for GBP 100, faking the name of a genuine laboratory on the false certificates.
In December 2020, a fraudster was apprehended by the Spanish National Police for selling false negative PCR certificates
on the surface web for an amount of EUR 404. In the Netherlands, scammers were discovered selling fake negative test statements for EUR 50-60 through messaging apps.
Europol received additional intelligence on the alleged use of a mobile application by the Rathkeale Rovers Mobile Organised Crime Group which allows members of the organised crime group to manually falsify test results.
The detection of fake COVID-19 negative test certificates confirms that criminals – be it organised crime groups or individual opportunistic scammers – seize profitable opportunities once they arise. As long as travel restrictions remain in place due to the COVID-19 situation, it is highly likely that production and sales of fake test certificates will prevail. Given the widespread technological means available, in the form of highquality printers and different software, fraudsters are able to produce high-quality counterfeit, forged or fake documents.
Given the widespread technological means available, in the form of high-quality printers and different software, fraudsters are able to produce high-quality counterfeit, forged or fake documents.
Member States are encouraged to share any relevant information on criminal activities related to fake COVID-19 test documentation with Europol.
