US sees uptick in fake vaccine cards
As more people get shots, offers to purchase fake Cdc-issued proof of vaccination cards have been popping up on social media.
The public should be wary of those scams, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General said.
“Valid proof of COVID-19 vaccination can only be provided to individuals by legitimate providers administering vaccines,” Yvonne Gamble said, warning that photos of COVID-19 vaccination cards should not be shared on social media.
“Posting content that includes your date of birth, health care details or other personally identifiable information can be used to steal your identity,” she added.
As of Thursday, over 4 million Ohioans, nearly 37% of the state’s population have received their first COVID-19 dose, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Meanwhile, the federal government has reported an uptick in fake vaccination documentation across the country.
“Fake COVID-19 vaccine cards are now 40-50% of the complaints we receive from the public,” Gamble said. “The complaints were sporadic, but we have seen a significant spike in the last two weeks.”
A bipartisan coalition of 45 U.S. attorneys general condemned the practice of forging vaccination cards, urging the public to be mindful of how these scams slow progress and protection against the virus and sending a letter to the CEOS of several social media giants.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost this month called on Twitter, ebay and Shopify to immediately prevent the sale of fake vaccination cards.
“Vaccines are more readily available across Ohio than ever before – don’t fall into a deceptive trap when you could get the real thing with less effort,” Yost said.
Alicia Shouts, the spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Health, said the vaccines are not mandatory, rendering the department unable to definitively say what the consequences of fake vaccine cards would mean going forward.
But she encouraged all Ohioans to keep track of their vaccination documents, just like they would file away any other important medical record.
“Ohioans should not keep false medical records for any reason,” she said, but acknowledged that this may pose a problem for business who will want to keep track of inoculated patrons.
“While the state has no current requirements, individual organizations, such as employers or educational institutions, may have their own requirements,” Shouts said.
In the letter from the attorneys general that Yost signed, the coalition asked social media CEOS to monitor their platforms, take down ads/links selling cards and preserve any record of the folks selling these false documents.
“Fraudulent vaccine cards simply don’t have a place in the marketplace,” Yost said.
Violators who make, sell or buy these forged documents are subject to prosecution, including a fine and/or imprisonment up to six months, said Gamble, the Office of Inspector General’s spokeswoman.
And, if the manufacturer of the fake vaccine cards are known to have fraudulently affixed the CDC’S seal to a card, they could face additional fines and/or a prison sentence up to five years, she added.
Gamble encouraged the public, including those who administer the COVID-19 vaccine, to be mindful of how they dispose of syringes, vials, vial container boxes, vaccination record cards and shipment or tracking records.
“Improper disposal of these items could be used by bad actors to commit fraud,” she said.
Folks interested in reviewing the Office of Inspector General’s COVID-19 fraud alerts can visit the department’s webpage. If you see a suspicious post regarding fake COVID-19 vaccine cards or other pandemic-related fraud, you can report it immediately online at oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud or call 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). cdoyle@dispatch.com @cadoyle_18