A Bolton travel agent is being investigated for issuing fake COVID-19 travel certificates following a successful raid by the council’s Trading Standards team.
Officers executed a warrant on the business and seized evidence showing a substantial number of fraudulent documents have been issued to customers this year.
Some countries require visitors from England to provide proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test before they are allowed entry.
PCR test results are processed in a laboratory and are seen as the “gold standard” in COVID testing.
Tests for travel are not available on the NHS and must be purchased from a private provider.
The Bolton-based travel agent was selling certificates of a negative PCR test result, but issued fraudulent documents claiming to be from a legitimate test clinics.
Items seized from the travel agent’s premises will now be analysed as the council investigates the scale of the activity.
Bolton Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Hilary Fairclough, said:
“Not only has this raid exposed a serious case of fraud, but the quick actions of our Trading Standards team have potentially prevented hundreds more trips facilitated by fake documents.
“It is difficult to overstate the damage that has been caused here: a legitimate business has faced reputational risk and travellers may have been unwittingly spreading a deadly virus.
“At a time when the community has pulled together to fight COVID-19 and keep everyone safe, it is shocking that a small minority have exploited the system for personal profit.
“Once again a successful operation has come about following a tip-off, highlighting that our Trading Standards team works best with the support of residents and legitimate businesses.”
