Thousands Receive Fake COVID-19 Vaccines, Injected With Salt Water Instead KEY POINTS At least 2,500 people fell victim to the COVID-19 vaccine scam The residents grew suspicious after their shots were not registered in the government's online tracking system Authorities seized more than $20,000 from the vaccine scam organizers Thousands of people in India became victims of a COVID-19 scam after being given shots of salt water instead of the coronavirus vaccine. An estimated 2,500 were given saline water across 12 fake vaccination sites as part of the wide-ranging scam. Vishal Thakur, a senior official of the Mumbai police department, said the organizers charged the victims between $10 to $17 per salt water shot.