Two men from Luton, Bedfordshire, have been charged in connection with the creation and online sale of fraudulent Covid-19 vaccination records during the pandemic, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Waqas Hanif, 26, and Touqir Nasir, 29, are accused of offences under the Computer Misuse Act and Fraud Act following an investigation led by the NCA and NHS England.
The probe revealed nearly 2,000 fraudulent vaccine records were created at a health centre in Luton between June and October 2021. Authorities also seized £145,000 in cash from a safety deposit box in the area.
The fraudulent documentation enabled unvaccinated individuals to bypass travel restrictions, the NCA stated.
Mr Hanif, of Sherwood Road, was arrested in January 2022 and faces charges including conspiracy to access computer systems without authorisation and acquisition, use, and possession of criminal property.
Mr Nasir, of Runley Road, participated in a voluntary interview in March 2022 and faces similar conspiracy charges.
Both men are also accused of conspiring to commit fraud by false representation and involvement in the retention and control of criminal property.
The suspects are due to appear at Luton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
During the pandemic, unvaccinated individuals allegedly paid for legitimate vaccine passport records obtained illegally through online marketplaces, allowing them to evade restrictions imposed on unvaccinated travellers.
The NCA emphasised its commitment to tackling criminal activities exploiting public health systems.
