Beware of COVID scams, both vax and test

Photo for representational purpose. Picture Courtesy/iStock

The Crime Branch has arrested a mobile phone dealer for allegedly making false RT-PCR test reports and COVID-19 vaccination certificates. During the raid, the cops unearthed data of hundreds of persons who approached him to make forged reports, said a story in this newspaper.

The cops sent dummy customers to the conman, who was accused once he acceded to their requests using the same modus operandi.

This is a good move by the police as it is vital we snare these conmen. Here, the danger, of course, is fooling an unsuspecting public through false reports. It is a very easy way to spread the virus and consequently take us steps back in our fight against the coronavirus and a possible dial down of the outbreak.

Through this outbreak we have seen the birth of the schemer or con artist who has tailored his nefarious schemes to suit the situation.

There has been a rash of cyber crimes because we inhabit the online world more than ever, practically living in cyber space during these months. There are vaccine scams that one has read about. The booster scam warnings were already buzzing on social media, even as the government announced boosters for the over 60s and frontline workers.

So, it is no surprise that we have the fake RT-PCR tests scam. One can say with certainty that this person who has been caught will not be the only one involved in this underhand work.

Controlling COVID-19 numbers is a battle we have to fight on multiple fronts and all of us, each and every individual, are stakeholders. Those who ask for such certificates are guilty too. In fact, we must be reporting these scamsters if we have credible and specific information. These criminals are in fact obstacles and adversaries in this war.