Fraud squad arrest pharmacist, 46, and building surveyor, 39, for 'illegally selling fake coronavirus testing kits'

A pharmacist and a building surveyor have been arrested on suspicion of illegally selling coronavirus testing kits.

Police say a 46-year-old pharmacist from Croydon, South London, was arrested for misleading the public on Saturday after police seized £20,000 from his properties.

In a separate incident, detectives also arrested a 39-year-old from Uxbridge, West London, who was caught driving a car carrying 250 Covid-19 testing kits on Sunday.

The surveyor told detectives he was planning to sell the kits to builders. Both suspects were held on suspicion of fraud.

Police search the premises of a pharmacist from Croydon, South London, who was arrested for misleading the public on Saturday after officers seized £20,000 from his properties

The use of coronavirus tests at home is not currently advised by Public Health England. There are no tests for home use that are CE marked, a certification that shows compliance with European safety standards, and it is illegal to sell them.

Officers also shut down a website whose creators were trying to trick victims into buying non-existent personal protective equipment through phishing emails.

Authorities are warning the public against using the diagnosis kits at home because they have not been approved by official bodies and could be dangerous to health.

Tariq Sarwar, head of operations for enforcement at the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, said: 'The use of products for the diagnosis of coronavirus infection in community settings, such as pharmacies, for home use, is not at present advised by Public Health England.

'There are no CE marked tests for home use, and it is illegal to supply such products. 

'The safety, performance or quality of the products cannot be guaranteed and this poses a health risk.'

Detectives are urging the public to be wary of a surge in email scams targeting vulnerable people.

Examples include fake offers of medical support, high return investments, and appeals to support bogus charities.

Graeme Biggar, director general of the National Economic Crime Centre, said: 'Covid-19 is increasingly being used as a hook to commit fraud - and we think these offences are likely to increase during the pandemic.

'Individuals and businesses need to be fully prepared for criminals trying to turn the pandemic to their advantage by scamming them out of money.

'Law enforcement, government and the private sector are working together to protect the public and combat these offenders.'

The pharmacist and the surveyor arrested this weekend have both been released on conditional bail.

Nikki Holland, director of investigations at the National Crime Agency, Britain's equivalent of the FBI, said: 'Criminals capitalise on fear and anxiety and they will exploit any opportunity, no matter how awful, to line their pockets.

'Illegally selling testing kits completely undermines the nation's collective response to the pandemic and actually endangers lives.

'Anyone thinking of trying to profit in this way should take note of these arrests and that bringing these offenders to justice and ceasing their activities is a key priority across law enforcement.' 

Details of the arrests came after Europol said it had foiled a plot to defraud German health authorities of millions of euros as they tried to buy face masks.

The FBI also warned it has seen incidents of conmen targeting government and health industry bodies responsible for buying protective equipment and ventilators.