Fake Covid test certificates being offered for travel
Europol advises police forces to be on the look-out for the forgeries
EUROPOL has issued a warning over the illicit sale of false negative Covid-19 test certificates
A force spokesman noted that ‘several cases’ have emerged of fraudulent certificates being supplied to travellers.
He said: “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.”
He explained in December a fraudster was apprehended by the Spanish National Police for selling fake test results for €40.
Since then a forgery ring selling negative test results to passengers has been dismantled at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.
In the UK, fraudsters were caught selling bogus Covid-19 documents for £100.
A major Irish crime network has also been identified as forging test results and selling the false documents across Europe.
“Europol received additional intelligence on the alleged use of a mobile application by the Rathkeale Rovers organised crime group which allows members of the group to manually falsify test results,” explained the spokesman.
The Rathkeale Rovers, who originate from the Limerick town of the same name, have been a target for European and international police forces for decades.
They are predominately based in Britain but are believed to have links across Europe and the US.
The Europol spokesman added: “Member States are encouraged to share any relevant information on criminal activities related to fake Covid-19 test documentation with Europol.”