Anti-vax tradies using fake Covid check-in apps on Sydney construction sites

Police are investigating after a report anti-vax tradies were using fake Covid check-in apps to gain entry to Sydney construction sites.

Anti-vax tradies across Sydney are using fake check-in codes to bluff their way past ­security guards at construction sites, placing workers doing the right thing in peril.

But authorities could be helpless to shut down the dodgy website generating the codes, with it appearing to be hosted by a web server in the United States.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal construction workers are using the website, which generates a near-identical check-in page to the Service NSW app, in a bid to bypass NSW Health orders.

A Service NSW spokesman confirmed the government body was alerted to the bogus site, which The Daily Telegraph has chosen not to name, last week, and have reported it to NSW Police.

Pictured: A fake check-in code generated by the dodgy website, which appears nearly identical to the real Service NSW app.

Pictured: A legitimate check-in code.

The fraudulent check-in means tradies using it can bypass NSW Health systems which alert workers if there has been a positive Covid-19 case on site.

It also means tradies avoid giving their details used to aid government contact-tracing, while being able to bypass ­security guards who check the details of workers entering larger construction sites.

One industry source said: “The honest people are being the hardest done by.”

Tradies who have used the real Service NSW app are stood down if there is a positive Covid-19 case at work, while those using the fake check-in avoid detection.

Further complicating matters is that the website appears to be hosted in the United States - making it difficult for Australian authorities to shut it down.

A Service NSW spokesman said the government body and Cyber Security NSW monitor the web for suspect sites, with the one in question brought to their attention last week.

Doing the right thing: Tradie Lewis Deguara (centre) from Black and White Carpentry and Constructions uses check-in codes at all his worksites. Picutred with Brock Moore, Mark Curry, Rossi Costa and Ben Trassari. Picture: Toby Zerna

“The Department of Customer Service was made aware of the website late last week and notified NSW Police. Investigations are ongoing therefore no further information can be provided at this stage,” he said.

“It is an offence to provide fraudulent check-in information.”

Eastern suburbs-based tradie Lewis De Guara, who runs small business Black and White Carpentry, uses QR codes on all his worksites and said it was “frustrating” some tradies were doing the wrong thing.

“It’s a bit frustrating hearing that - we’re all sacrificing and trying to do the right thing so we can keep working and get back in the pub quicker,” he said.

He said he wouldn’t stand for fake check-ins being used on his sites.

“We’re all meant to be one team - one in, all in,” he said.