Italian scamsters arrested after jabbing people with fake vaccine

Just a day after Italy declared its Covid-19 restrictions, including uninoculated citizens being forbidden from using public transport, a nurse has been arrested for pretending to jab vaccine injections in return for money.

Captured in a video, a male nurse from Ancona, Italy, was seen discarding Covid-19 vaccines in a container and swiping them for used needles, to jab approximately 50 people in exchange for fake vaccine certificates.

The nurse has been arrested. The city’s tribunal has launched an investigation for bribery, embezzlement, fake certificates and misusing public goods.

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Furthermore, four people who are alleged to be mediators in the process have been placed under house arrest. Those jabbed with the fake vaccine shot have been prohibited from leaving their municipalities.

The recent restrictions in the country also prohibit unvaccinated citizens from going to coffee shops, hotels and gyms, and from using public transport.

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According to the Italian police, the scammers have amassed over €18,000 through the elaborate scheme and have issued over 50 forged vaccination certificates in return. Police officials added that each person was charged around €400 for a certificate. Many people had travelled to Ancona to get the vaccine.

The rigid restrictions were announced after many Italians had returned to workplaces and schools after Christmas and New Year’s holidays, causing a massive surge in the daily Covid-19 infection tally in the country.

Italy has inoculated around 86% of its population above 12 years, along with 60% booster shots to those who are eligible.

Of late, several similar cases have been investigated in the country. A month ago, an Italian dentist decided to get inoculated in his fake silicon arm. After a criminal investigation was launched, the clinician added that the fake jab was a way of protesting against the government’s vaccine mandate for frontline workers.