Interpol Issues Global Alert On Criminals Trying To Steal COVID-19 Vaccines
Covid-19 vaccines now on the verge of a rollout the Interpol has warned that organised criminal networks could be targeting their supply chain. Criminal networks will also be targeting unsuspecting members of the public via fake websites and false cures which could pose a significant risk to their health even their lives.
Since the pursuit of a Covid-19 vaccine has begun, notorious attempts at disrupting their advancement have risen simultaneously.
Vials of AstraZeneca's COVISHIELD, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine are seen before they are packaged inside a lab at Serum Institute of India, Pune (Image: Reuters)
With COVID-19 vaccines now on the verge of a rollout, the Interpol has warned that organised criminal networks could be targeting their supply chain in order to sell their own fakes.
Interpol global police coordination agency issued the global alert to law enforcement across its 194 member countries. The agency warned them to prepare for the organised crime networks possibly targeting COVID-19 vaccines, both physically and online.
In the alert, Interpol noted that the pandemic has already triggered ¡°unprecedented opportunistic and predatory criminal behaviour.¡± This includes examples of crimes where individuals have been ¡°advertising, selling and administering fake vaccines.¡±
¡°As governments are preparing to roll out vaccines, criminal organisations are planning to infiltrate or disrupt supply chains. Criminal networks will also be targeting unsuspecting members of the public via fake websites and false cures, which could pose a significant risk to their health, even their lives,¡± said Interpol secretary general Juergen Stock.
(Representative Image: Reuters)
In order to be ready against such attacks, Interpol called for a coordination between law enforcement and health regulatory bodies.
Online fraud
Citing the increase in Covid-related frauds, the agency further warned the public to take special care when going online to search for medical equipment or medicines. It also mentioned the need to identify illicit websites selling fake products related to Covid.
Interpol identified a two-way threat to these online frauds and threats. The obvious one is that the counterfeit products being sold can potentially be life-threatening to victims of the fraud. Second, Interpol¡¯s Cybercrime Unit warned of the phishing and spamming malware that around 1700 of such illicit websites can spread.
The counterfeit Covid-19 medical equipment that the Interpol warned against includes testing kits for the novel virus. The agency noted that unauthorised and falsified Covid-19 testing kits on sale through such channels should also be checked as international travel gradually resumes.
