Police hunt scammer who injected fake Covid-19 vaccine into elderly woman

POLICE have released a picture of a man suspected of injecting people with fake Covid-19 vaccines as virus-related scams sweep across the area.
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Police are hoping to identify the man after a 92-year-old woman was injected with a fake Covid-19 vaccine in Kingsmead Avenue in Surbiton, London, on Wednesday, December 30.

The man stated he was from the NHS and was allowed inside the victim’s house, before he proceeded to jab her in the arm with what she described as a ‘dart-like implement’.

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Following the jab, the victim was then made to pay £160, which she was told would be reimbursed by the NHS.

Police are hoping to identify this man after an elderly woman was given a fake Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: The City of London Police.Police are hoping to identify this man after an elderly woman was given a fake Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: The City of London Police.
Police are hoping to identify this man after an elderly woman was given a fake Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: The City of London Police.

It is the latest in a range of Covid-related scams that have begun to sweep across the country, including Hampshire and Portsmouth.

Fareham Borough Council has warned its residents to be aware of similar scam texts, while Portsmouth City Council has had reports of fake Covid-19 marshals issuing fraudulent fines to unsuspecting businesses.

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Regarding the fake vaccine injection, Detective Inspector Kevin Ives from the City of London Police’s Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit said: ‘This is a disgusting and totally unacceptable assault on a member of the public which won’t be tolerated.

‘We are appealing to anyone who may have information that could assist us in identifying this man to get in touch. It is crucial we catch him as soon as possible as not only is he defrauding individuals of money, he may endanger people’s lives.’

It is not clear what substance – if any – was contained within the fake jab, and the woman has been checked by medical staff and has suffered no side effects after the incident.

Anyone with information about the identity of the man involved in the Surbiton incident should call 101, quoting reference 3042 and the date 07 Jan 2021.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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