The Italian police announced Monday, August 9 that they had dismantled an online sales network for fake health passes, a key that has become mandatory since Friday in the peninsula to access many public places.
Read also: Travel to Italy and Covid-19: health pass, form, vaccine, PCR test ... Info for the 2021 summer holidays
The police have identified four suspects, including two minors, who proposed the sale of these false documents on social networks.
“
Thousands of users were registered on popular communication platforms where fake health passes were offered for sale for a price between 150 and 500 euros, with an absolute guarantee of anonymity thanks to payment in cryptocurrency or with vouchers purchase for e-commerce sites
, ”the postal police said in a statement.
Required since Friday in Italy
The health pass has been compulsory since Friday in Italy to access cinemas, museums and dining rooms.
The pass is granted in the event of vaccination (at least one dose), a negative test in the last 48 hours or recovery from Covid-19 in the last six months.
Read also: Demonstrations in Italy against the health pass
From September 1, it will also be required on trains and coaches, as well as for teachers and students.
Police said they identified a total of 32 chat channels involved in this traffic on the Telegram instant messaging network.
The identification of buyers is in progress.
The crackdown came as 20 million Italians downloaded their pass over the past three days, according to Health Minister Roberto Speranza. "
This is an extraordinary figure which demonstrates the awareness and participation of the citizens of our country in the fight against Covid,
" he wrote on Facebook on Monday.
