Two individuals have been charged over the creation and sale of faux Covid-19 vaccination information throughout the pandemic.
Waqas Hanif, 26, and Touqir Nasir, 29, will seem at Luton magistrates’ courtroom on Thursday. They have been charged in relation to alleged offences below the Pc Misuse Act and Fraud Act, the Nationwide Crime Company (NCA) mentioned.
A joint investigation, carried out by the NCA and NHS England, discovered nearly 2,000 fraudulent information at a well being centre in Luton between June and October 2021.
Investigators additionally seized £145,000 in money from a security deposit field within the city, the NCA added.
In the course of the pandemic, unvaccinated people reportedly paid for reputable vaccine passport information obtained illegally from on-line marketplaces so they may journey when others have been topic to restrictions.
Paul Foster, head of the NCA’s nationwide cyber crime unit, mentioned: “Receiving a vaccine is a matter of particular person alternative. Nevertheless, abusing our healthcare system to facilitate unvaccinated people to bypass restrictions which are in place to guard the British public is against the law.
“Working intently with the NHS England Counter Fraud Crew, this investigation has helped to safe the security of our communities by stopping organised criminals from additional undermining the nationwide pandemic response and benefiting financially from the damaging service they supplied.”
Hanif, of Sherwood Street, Luton, was arrested by NCA officers in January 2022, and Nasir, of Runley Street, Luton, attended a voluntary interview in March 2022, the NCA mentioned.
Hanif and Nasir have each been charged with conspiracy to unauthorised pc entry with intent to commit different offences, enter into/involved in acquisition/retention/use or management felony property and conspiracy to commit fraud by false illustration.
Hanif has additionally been charged with purchase/use/possess felony property.
