Photo Courtesy of Sen. Schumer
“Fake vaccination cards have been advertised on social media, blogs and more, and now, new signs point to ramp-up production of fake cards with government logos overseas via countries like China,” Sen. Schumer said.
By Forum Staff
Amidst a surge of counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards that could continue to be sold online or shipped to mail processing centers like John F. Kennedy International Airport, before being distributed to various parts of the country, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer urged the feds, specifically U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Health and Human Services and the FBI to team up and launch a crackdown against fake COVID-19 vaccination cards. Further, the Senator urged the feds to get the word out that selling or buying the counterfeit cards is not without risk because doing so is a federal crime punishable with fines or up to five years in jail. In addition, Schumer also made the case to prospective buyers of these fake cards to do something even easier and better for their health: get the safe and effective COVID vaccine.
“Fake vaccination cards have been advertised on social media, blogs and more, and now, new signs point to ramp-up production of fake cards with government logos overseas via countries like China. Just [Saturday], a bust in Tennessee revealed Chinese counterfeiters are looking to cash in on vaccine hesitation and distribute these faux cards. That’s why we need a federal crackdown and an educational campaign to make clear this is illegal and that there is an even easier solution for those who are looking to buy or sell fake vaccine cards, and it is: to get the vaccine,” Schumer added.
Schumer said the feds must step up their efforts to ameliorate this problem before it gets worse. Schumer said that the Department of Justice must ensure these fraud cases are prosecuted to fullest extent of the law and take steps to educate the public on why this is wrong and the consequences wrongdoers will face.
Schumer also warned that for those who did receive a real vaccination card, they should not post it on social media because their info could be used in the process of making a counterfeit card. Schumer also said that we must continue the efforts he has secured federal dollars for that address vaccine hesitation, because the root of fake CDC cards stems from this predicament. Schumer said fake vaccine cards will become a real big problem in the coming months unless a crackdown is launched and the law made clear.
According to the Associated Press, across the internet, a cottage industry has sprung up to accommodate people who say they won’t get vaccinated for either personal or religious reasons. An Instagram account with the username “vaccinationcards” sells laminated COVID-19 vaccination cards for $25 each. A user on the encrypted messaging app, Telegram, offers “COVID-19 Vaccine Cards Certificates,” for as much as $200 apiece. Just yesterday, according to CBP, a bust occurred at the port of Memphis, where a suspicious shipment coming from Shenzhen, China en route to the central business district of New Orleans was intercepted. It was the 15th such shipment of the night. Inside were 51 counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards. The cards had blanks for the recipient’s name and birthdate, the vaccine maker, lot number, and date and place the shot was given, as well as the Center for Disease Control logo in the upper right corner. Schumer said this is illegal and wants the feds to get the word out.
