Dozens fall victim to $300 Covid vaccine scam
NSW Police are investigating a possible Covid vaccine booking fraud after money was exchanged for jab appointments at a major hospital in Sydney.
AAP understands people on the Chinese language social media app WeChat were asked to pay $300 to secure a quick turnaround booking for Pfizer at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney's inner west.
Police were called in over the weekend and the state's cyber crime unit set up a strike force.
A police spokesperson told AAP that members of the public had attended the hospital for "fraudulent vaccination bookings".
"Police have been told the fraudulent bookings were made through an online vaccination booking service under allocations for essential healthcare workers," the spokesperson said.
About 60 people booked vaccines that were meant for health care workers over the weekend, NSW Police say.
They were ineligible for priority bookings.
Police Minister David Elliott is expected to address the media on the issue on Thursday afternoon.
AAP has approached NSW Health for comment.
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