The police said on Monday that counterfeit anti-coronavirus “green passes” began to spread in Italy a few days after their launch, adding that they had disrupted a network that sold false evidence for vaccination, rehabilitation or testing.
The police said on Monday that counterfeit anti-coronavirus “green passes” began to spread in Italy a few days after their launch, adding that they had disrupted a network that sold false evidence for vaccinations, rehabilitation or testing.
The police said they had identified four suspects in the ongoing investigation, including two minors.
“Thousands of users register on well-known communication platforms, sell fake green passes on these platforms, absolutely guarantee anonymity, pay in cryptocurrency or vouchers from online shopping platforms, and the price is between 150 and 500 euros. [R2 585 to R8 616],” the Italian postal police said in a statement.
The police added that they confiscated 32 groups in Telegram (an instant messaging app) during the investigation.
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The Green Pass is an extension of the EU’s digital Covid-19 certification, which became mandatory in Italy on Friday to enter movie theaters, museums, indoor stadiums or dine indoors in restaurants.
The pass indicated that the carrier received at least one dose of the vaccine, recovered from Covid-19 within the past six months, or tested negative within the past 48 hours.
Long-distance trains and buses after September 1 will also be required and are mandatory for school and university staff and university students.
According to Health Minister Roberto Speranza, the police investigation was conducted after 20 million Italians downloaded their green passes in the past three days.
Speranza wrote on Facebook on Monday: “This is an extraordinary number that shows the awareness and participation of our citizens in the fight against the new crown virus.”
