As more countries need travelers to prove their negative status before joining, a black market for negative COVID-19 tests has emerged across the globe, a study said Wednesday.
In France, seven people were arrested at Charles de Gaulle International Airport last week for allegedly hawking doctor-detected coronavirus tests,
The Associated Press announced. For the fake checks, the perpetrators, who were not named, were fined up to $360. After discovering a man bound for Ethiopia with a fake examination, authorities tracked the ring down, according to the article.
If convicted, the suspected scammers face up to five years imprisonment. In South America, four tourists who gave fake tests were detained by Brazilian officials after they flew into an island chain off the country's coast that allows travelers to demonstrate negative test results.
In England, a man told a local newspaper that he was able to travel to Pakistan by using a friend’s negative COVID-19 test and changing his name.
“You can simply get their negative test and change the name and birthdate to your own. You also put a test date on which is within the time limit required,” the man, who didn’t want to be named, told the Lancashire Telegraph.
“You download the email, change it and then print it,” said.
He added that he went to the lengths because he couldn’t get a test that he needed to travel because he’s not an essential worker.
“People are doing this as you can’t get a Covid test if you have to travel to Pakistan in case of an emergency. It is difficult to get one unless you are a key worker,” he said.
