Starting tomorrow, the police are stepping up checks on the authenticity of “3-G” credentials. “We have detected close to 400 such fake documents in the last six months alone,” the Director General of Public Security, Franz Ruf, reported today. The checks, especially in the restaurant industry, are supported by health authorities.
The probability of being caught is “very high in the future,” said
Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) at a press conference in Vienna. “This is not a trivial offense in our country.” It could also “mean that you will be imprisoned if you produce, distribute and perhaps use such forged documents,” he said.
Ruf spoke of possible offenses of fraud, forgery of documents and data, and use of other people’s IDs. The range of punishment is up to three years in prison. In addition, there would be violations of the CoV regulations, here up to 500 euros in fines are possible, Ruf said.
“Big problem”
The “3-G” certificate is being “falsified more and more,” Nehammer said. This represents a major problem, he said, which is why it was decided to “take active measures.” Above all in the catering trade the proofs are to be controlled “lastingly”.
The corresponding decree on the “action sharp” to the provincial police directorates of all provinces goes out today, said Ruf.
Reinforced controls are to take place daily in the future. The police officers use the app “GreenCheck” with their service cell phones to check the “3-G” proofs, Ruf explained. Not only QR codes for the “Green Passport” will be checked, but also classic vaccination passports as well as official photo IDs.
In social networks, there is “lively interest” from buyers and buyers of forgeries. Among other things, investigations are still underway against perpetrators with a foreign connection, the director general for public security explained. Further details were not given for tactical reasons.
— source: ORF.at/agencies/picture: hp
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