A FRAUDSTER who conned holidaymakers in to paying for fake Covid-19 ‘fit to fly’ certificates at the height of the pandemic has been prosecuted.
Saranjeet Trina Kandola, of South View Road, Leamington, traded as ‘Travel Test Solutions Ltd’, a business that offered PCR tests for holidaymakers costing between £60 and £149 per person.
The 41-year-old, who advertised on social media, visited the homes of customers to take swabs that should then have been tested at a laboratory.
But no laboratory tests were ever carried out and the Covid ‘free’ certificates issued were worthless.
Warwickshire Trading Standards launched an investigation after some of the trader’s customers became concerned that the certificates they had received were fake.
The certificates provided by the business stated that testing had been carried out by a Coventry-based laboratory.
But the laboratory told Travel Test Solutions Ltd customers who contacted them that they had not conducted any work for the business.
In order to hide her identity Miss Kandola set up both Travel Test Solutions Ltd and a PayPal account – to receive payments from customers – in the name of another person.
Trading standards were first alerted to Travel Test Solutions Ltd in December 2020 and contacted the business on the same day, leading to the business stopping trading immediately.
Warwickshire County Council community safety spokesman Coun Andy Crump said: “It is unbelievable that someone should seek to attempt to scam holidaymakers in this way, leading people to believe that they were Covid-19 free when they could very well have had the virus.
“I’m delighted that Warwickshire Trading Standards Officers acted quicky to uncover this fraud and prevent other holidaymakers losing out.”
Kandola pleaded guilty at Coventry Magistrates Court to five offences contrary to the Fraud Act 2006. She will be sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on May 11.
This is not to be confused with Saranjit Kandola, who runs Skin Haven on Clemens St in Leamington which is a reputable business.
