City of London Police officers has charged a man after a 92-year-old woman was given a fake Covid vaccine in her home.
The victim allowed the fraudster into her home in Surbiton, south-west London after he claimed he was from the NHS and there to administer the Covid-19 vaccine.
The victim was jabbed in the arm with what she described as a ‘dart like implement’.
The man then charged her £160 for the fake vaccine, which he said would be reimbursed by the NHS.
David Chambers, 33, of Hook Rise North, Surbiton, was arrested on Wednesday 13 January 2021 and taken to Bishopsgate police station.
He was charged on Thursday 14 January with two counts of fraud by false representation, one count of common assault, and two covid regulations breaches.
He has been remanded into custody to appear at Kingston Crown Court on Friday 12 February 2021.
A spokesperson for the City of London Police said:
‘In the UK, coronavirus vaccines will only be available via the National Health Services of England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
‘You can be contacted by the NHS, your employer, a GP surgery or pharmacy local to you, to receive your vaccine.
‘Remember, the vaccine is free of charge. At no point will you be asked to pay’.
The NHS will never:
- ask you for your bank account or card details
- ask you for your PIN or banking password
- arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine
- ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, utility bills or payslips.
If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, then you can report this to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.action fraud.police.UK.
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