NEW JERSEY – The latest scam related to the coronavirus pandemic is spreading online and New Jersey officials are warning residents.
Counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards are now being sold en masse, and the FBI last month issued a memorandum warning that the manufacture, sale or purchase of counterfeit cards could pose serious problems for those involved.
Last week, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, 41 other State Attorneys General and 3 AGs from U.S. territories issued a letter to Jack Dorsey, CEO of Shopify, Tobias Lütke, CEO of Shopify, and Jamie Iannone, CEO of eBay, regarding the fake vaccination cards marketed on their platforms. The 47 total agencies appealed to key technology companies to market the wrong information and fake vaccination cards.
“We are very concerned about the use of your platforms to spread false and misleading information regarding COVID vaccines. The false and misleading marketing and sales of fake COVID vaccination cards threaten the health of our communities, slowing the progress of our residents against the virus., and is a violation of the laws of many states, “reads the letter.
In some cases, thieves use the images that people have posted on social media of their disease control centers to sell them online. Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh has warned residents not to share photos of their card.
Reminder: Do not post a copy of your message #VaccineCard online, “Frosh tweeted.” This card contains your full name, date of birth and where and when you received the vaccine. Thieves can use the information on your card to steal your personal information and commit fraud. ‘
The FBI has stated that copying government stamps (such as those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) remains a federal crime and can be punishable under applicable law.
“If you have not received the vaccine, do not buy fake vaccination cards, do not make your own vaccination cards and do not fill in blank vaccination cards with false information. By misrepresenting yourself as vaccinated when you enter schools, mass transit, workplaces. , gyms or places of worship, put yourself and others at risk for contracting COVID-19, ”reads the statement.
The AGs demanded that such actions include monitoring advertising or linking platforms, removing ads or links, and keeping records of individuals associated with ads or links marketing fraudulent vaccination cards. The letter calls on CEOs to respond on Friday.
“The use of your platforms to distribute misleading marketing and sales of fake vaccine tickets is a threat to residents of our states. Consequently, we ask you to take immediate action to prevent your platforms from being used as a vehicle to commits these deceptive and deceptive acts that harm our communities.
Meanwhile, the FBI ‘strongly encourages’ businesses, schools, places of worship and government agencies to follow CDC leadership and still maintain social distance and use personal protective equipment. Those who have been vaccinated are asked not to post pictures of vaccination cards on social media sites to prevent fraud.
With reporting by Max Bennett.