This is apparent from research by RTL Nieuws. The Public Prosecution Service confirms that three people have been arrested on suspicion of fraud with QR codes. The three employees, who were hired by the GGD through an employment agency, had access to the system to generate QR codes.
One of the suspects is suspected of having provided her password that allowed her to log into the system she was working with, which allowed others to create QR codes. The three suspects, who worked at the large GGD location in the Schiphol parking lot, are currently in custody.
Some of the false QR codes will be blocked this evening, the ministry confirms after questions from RTL Nieuws.
Hundreds of euros per QR code
The fake QR codes were offered and traded through various channels for prices from hundreds of euros to sometimes as much as a thousand euros. The QR codes are in the name of your choice and can be used to gain access to, among other things, catering and events, even if someone has not been vaccinated or has not taken a test.
In total, tens of thousands of fake QR codes were created by the employees. That’s a multiple of the 297 fraudulent QR codes currently blocked by the ministry. These codes were shared in chat groups and misused to gain access, according to an investigation by the NOS.
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Action by VWS
The large-scale fraud recently came to light through the deployment of digital investigators from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), a spokesperson confirmed. A report was then made and the arrests were made by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee.
According to sources surrounding the investigation, the ministry has clearly mapped out which places have access to the QR code systems, and the logging (which employee registers which person) has been significantly improved in important places.
The ministry states that fighting fraud with QR codes is very important. “We are really on top of that at the moment,” said a spokesperson. “By defrauding QR codes you are taking a risk with your own health and that of others.”
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Buyers are also punishable
Not only the sellers of these QR codes are punishable, so warned the police previously: “Even if you have purchased a false vaccination certificate and then use it, you are committing an offense and endangering the health of others.”
People who buy a fake QR code risk a criminal record, fine and prison, according to the police, because they commit forgery. “That is why we are also investigating the customers of the suspects who have been arrested.”
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QR code in the name of Adolf Hitler
In October, a striking QR code was circulated: one in the name of Adolf Hitler, according to research from this website. Hitler’s code was distributed by a cybercriminal to show that he could create any QR code he wanted. The criminal had access to the system used to create the QR codes via a leaked password.
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