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The Internet is not just a portal to every kind of information; the virtual world is also the world’s biggest marketplace that gives everyone equal access to buy and sell wares. A downside to this is that the internet also helps unscrupulous buyers connect with criminals selling everything from illegal weapons to fake paternity tests.
Yes, you read that right. There are service providers online selling fake DNA paternity test reports that appear authentic and may be misused by people involved in legal child custody battles. The cost of such a report? Just $60.
This scam recently came to our notice when a member of our Facebook group Global Scam Fighters made a post regarding the websites Fake DNA Test (fakednatest.com) and Hunts Genetics (huntsgenetics.com).
I decided to take a look at huntsgenetics.com to check for signs for it being a scam. The domain registration information of the website shows that it was registered on 10th September 2018, which makes the site less than 4 years old. However, the website states that the company has 5 years of experience, which appears to be false.
When a user opens a website, they are greeted with the following text:
Home paternity tests for just $99 USD / £99 GBP. Get the answer you need today! Our home paternity test is the most cost effective and fastest way to confirm whether an alleged father is the biological father of a child.
Our team test 21 genetic markers to ensure a 99.9996% accuracy level. All our results are provided in full confidentiality.
“I truly recommend your company. The service provided by Hunts Genetics was perfect. I would like to thank the company for confirming that I was the biological father!” – ✪✪✪✪✪ – Terry, 17th January 2019
The above text gives the impression that Hunts Genetics is a completely legitimate DNA testing service with satisfied clients. This seemed to be merely an illusion when I found that there is another website named Genetics Testing Co (geneticstestingco.com) which is a duplicate of Hunts Genetics’ site, complete with the same (likely fake) testimonial.
While searching for links between Hunts Genetics and Genetics Testing Co, I found that the contact details given for both are the same, suggesting that they may be operated by the same owners.
According to an article by The Sun titled ‘Brits TRICKED into wrongly believing they’re a parent when they’re not – using fake £45 DNA test’, Hunts Genetics is a front for the website Fake DNA Test (fakednatest.com). This website makes no pretences about its DNA paternity test reports being fake.
It is abundantly clear that Fake DNA Test is using fronts that appear as legitimate genetic testing companies to create a facade that their reports are authentic. The website states that they have “Real” DNA Testing Company (quotes their own) to trick the recipients of the fake test report into believing that the report has been issued by a genuine company.
They promise “real looking” reports in an hour containing any information that the buyer wants it to have, such as a fake name for the biological father. The website also touts:
Your partner is able to call, email and visit the website of the real company. Their customer service team will confirm the DNA test results. We are sure they will believe you! We have “Real” DNA companies in the US, Canada, UK and Ireland.
It is easy to see why this can have serious consequences for couples and their children. As reported in the Sun article, a British woman was jailed after using a fake DNA report to con her ex-partner into thinking their daughter wasn’t his. The woman purchased a fabricated report from Hunts Genetics to suggest another man was 99.99% likely their daughter’s paternal dad.
This was far from a one-off case as reviews written online give a small glimpse of the terrible experiences that potentially numerous men have gone through because of the services provided by fake DNA paternity test report websites such as ake DNA Test, Hunts Genetics and Genetics Testing Co.
Fake DNA paternity test reports add to the worrying trend of various types of fake documents such as Passports, Driving Licenses and IDs being sold online. Scammers will fall to any depth to make a few bucks and this includes callously selling fake documents that can have severe negative impact on the lives of multiple people and even children.
Unfortunately, there does not seem to be an end to this menace in sight as scammers simply create new websites if an active one is shut down. Buyers should keep in mind that they risk facing huge fines or jail time if they decide to purchase fake documents or reports online while the makers of fake reports will get away scot-free.
