Ukrainian intelligence officers exposed an international criminal group, that was selling fake Pfizer vaccine against coronavirus (COVID-19) disease.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) press center, the offenders widely advertised their services and claimed that they could supply the vaccine from the U.S. company Pfizer, but in fact, they were engaged in fraud and had nothing to do with the original products.
“The intelligence officers found out that the group included Ukraine, Russia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone citizens. Taking advantage of the news that Pfizer has officially started deliveries to Ukraine, the scammers decided to make money on this. On the Internet, they posted an advertisement about the functioning of enterprises registered on the territory of Ukraine, which supposedly has the opportunity to supply Pfizer vaccines,” the report said.
Thus, to convince clients of the availability of the vaccine, the members of the criminal group provided potential buyers with fake letters of guarantee from Ukrainian banks, which indicated the current accounts for transferring funds that were open to Ukrainian citizens.
It was found that the cost of one “fake vaccine” was $250. The offenders worked primarily for clients from the Russian Federation and India.
The Security Service, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, exposed the offenders and closed the channel for the illegal sale of the fake Pfizer vaccine to other countries at the end of April.
