[ad_1]
Interpol has issued a global alert to its 194 member countries, including Portugal, warning them to prepare for attacks by organized crime networks that will soon act on covid-19 vaccines.
The “orange warning” from Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) describes possible criminal activities such as counterfeiting, theft and illegal advertising of future vaccines against covid-19 and flu, criminal behaviors that were already detected during the period pandemic with other products.
The warning also covers criminal examples in which the perpetrators advertise, sell and administer bogus vaccines.
With a series of covid-19 vaccines to be approved shortly and with global distribution, it is critical that countries ensure supply chain security and identify illicit ‘websites’ selling counterfeit products, as they have already done. happened to the masks. and alcohol gel.
Good coordination between criminal police forces and the various health regulatory bodies, according to Interpol, will play a vital role in ensuring the safety of individuals and the well-being of communities in this pandemic period.
“As governments prepare to launch vaccines, criminal organizations plan to infiltrate or disrupt supply chains,” warned Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock.
For the head of the international criminal police organization, “criminal networks will also target the general public, through fake websites and fake cures, which can pose a significant risk to health and even life.”
“It is essential that the police are as prepared as possible for what will be a violent attack on all kinds of criminal activities linked to the covid-19 vaccine, which is why Interpol issued this global alert,” concluded Stock.
Interpol also warns about tests in covid-19
In addition to vaccines, and as international travel gradually resumes, testing for the new coronavirus is likely to be of the utmost importance, resulting in the parallel production and distribution of unauthorized and counterfeit test kits.
With a growing number of disease-related fraud, Interpol also advises the public to use extra caution when accessing the Internet to search for medical equipment or drugs.
In addition to the dangers of ordering potentially fatal products, an analysis by Interpol’s CyberCrime Unit revealed that there are about 3,000 websites associated with online pharmacies suspected of selling illicit drugs and medical devices and that 1,700 contained cyber threats. like computer viruses.
