Interpol-vaccine crime

[url]https://www.europol.europa.eu/publications-documents/early-warning-notification-vaccine-related-crime-during-covid-19-pandemic[/url] or https://www.europol.europa.eu/publications-documents/early-warning-notification-vaccine-related-crime-during-covid-19-pandemic ;

From the PDF;  

Background  

Trafficking of pharmaceutical products takes place on a large scale and is highly lucrative for the organised crime groups involved. The expectation of the development of a viable COVID-19 vaccine has generated global attention1 . While testing is ongoing, several EU Member States have announced that a vaccine will be available soon. Organised crime has reacted swiftly to adapt its methods and product offerings to the COVID-19 pandemic. The expected arrival of a genuine COVID-19 vaccine has already inspired criminal activities and will likely be exacerbated once vaccines become available.

Why is this relevant?

The detection of a fake influenza vaccine confirms that criminals seize opportunities as soon as they present themselves. Owing to the pandemic, the demand for the influenza vaccine has been higher than usual and there risks being a shortage. Criminals have reacted quickly by producing counterfeit influenza vaccines. The same scenario is also likely to happen when COVID-19 vaccines do become available. Criminals may attempt to exploit the current global focus on COVID-19 vaccines. Criminals may spread disinformation about vaccines to defraud individuals and companies. When a COVID-19 vaccine does become available, it will likely not be available for sale online. However, fraudulent pharmaceutical products advertised as allegedly treating or preventing COVID-19 are already on sale, both offline and online 3 .

Some dark web markets feature advertisements for fake COVID-19 vaccines. The number of offers is limited at this stage but will likely increase once a legitimate vaccine becomes available. Criminals advertise their fake vaccines using the brands of genuine pharmaceutical companies that are already in the final stages of testing4 .