Purchasing A Fake Covid 19 Vaccination Card

Purchasing A Fake Covid 19 Vaccination Card: What You Need to Know

With vaccine mandates becoming increasingly common, some unvaccinated individuals are turning to the black market to buy fake COVID-19 vaccination cards. While it may seem harmless on the surface, purchasing or using a fraudulent vaccination card is illegal and can have serious consequences.

In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about fake vaccine cards: the risks, the laws, where people are getting them, and more. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive look at this complex issue.

Is It Illegal to Buy or Make Fake Vaccine Cards?

Yes, buying, selling, or making fraudulent COVID-19 vaccine cards is illegal under federal law. It can lead to punishments including:

• Up to 5 years in prison
• Up to a $5,000 fine
• Being barred from federal employment
• Being barred from future government contracts

Specific laws that apply include:

• 18 USC 1017 – Makes it illegal to make or sell any counterfeit or fake government seal, which includes the CDC logo on vaccine cards.
• 18 USC 1028 – Prohibits fraud in connection with identification documents, which includes COVID-19 vaccine cards.
• 18 USC 1343 – Outlaws wire fraud schemes, which selling or buying fake cards online would fall under.

In addition to federal laws, some states like California, New York, and Illinois have passed specific laws banning fake COVID-19 vaccine cards. Local district attorneys can choose to prosecute cases under state laws as well.

Where Are People Getting Fake Vaccine Cards?

There are a few common ways people are obtaining fraudulent COVID-19 vaccine cards:

• Online marketplaces – Sites like eBay, Etsy, Facebook, and Telegram have all hosted sellers offering fake vaccine cards, though most take them down once discovered.[1]
• Dark web sites – More sophisticated operations sell high-quality fake vaccine cards on dark web marketplaces for hundreds of dollars paid in cryptocurrency.[2]
• Shady social media posts – Scammers on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat direct message people deals on fake vaccine cards.[3]
• Making their own – Some people create DIY fake vaccine cards using free templates, photocopies, or graphics programs.[4]

While major platforms try to stop illicit sales, new vendors constantly pop up looking to capitalize on demand for fake vaccine proof. It’s a game of whack-a-mole as law enforcement and tech companies work to take them down.

How to Spot a Fake COVID Vaccine Card

Fake COVID-19 vaccine cards are getting more sophisticated and harder to detect. However, there are a few red flags to watch out for:

• Typos, misspellings, or incorrect information like wrong locations.
• Low quality or blurred text, images, or logos.
• Cards using stock template images instead of actual batch stickers.
• Irregular card size, thickness, or feel.
• Dates out of sequence for the doses.
• Handwritten cards or entries (real cards are printed).

No single indicator guarantees a card is fake – only careful examination plus verification in a vaccine database can confirm legitimacy.

How Are Businesses Verifying Vaccine Cards?

With fake vaccine cards spreading, many businesses are taking steps to verify proof of vaccination:

• Scanning QR codes – Some states like California offer digital vaccine records with scannable QR codes that link to a verified record.
• Checking against state databases – Some bars, music venues query state immunization registries to validate vaccine cards.
• Requiring additional proof – Employers or schools may ask for a photo ID to match names to vaccine cards.
• Assessing card features – Trained staff look at card details like fonts, logos, formats to spot inconsistencies.
• Requiring originals – Only accepting original vaccine cards, not photos, which are easier to fake.

While not foolproof, combining methods makes it much harder to successfully use fake COVID vaccine credentials.

Should Businesses Require Vaccine Verification?

This is a complex issue with reasonable arguments on both sides:

Reasons to require proof of vaccination

• Ensures lower COVID risk in their establishment.
• Incentivizes more people to get vaccinated.
• Gives peace of mind to staff and patrons who are vaccinated.
• Avoids alienating vaccinated customers who want assurance of safety.

Reasons not to require proof of vaccination

• It’s difficult and costly to check every card thoroughly.
• Will turn away some legitimate unvaccinated customers.
• Opens staff up to more confrontation with angry customers.
• May not actually improve safety if checks are cursory.

There are good-faith debates on both sides of this issue. Each locale and business owner will need to weigh the pros, cons, and feasibility of vaccine requirements given their specific circumstances.

Should Vaccine Cards Be Digital Instead of Paper?

Many experts argue paper vaccine cards were always meant to be temporary, and that digital vaccine credentials are a safer, more efficient solution. Potential benefits of secure digital vaccine proof include:

• Much harder to fake a verified digital record with QR code.
• Easier and faster for businesses to scan a code than check cards.
• Supports privacy better by only showing necessary info.
• Helps people lose their card less often.
• Allows easy access on mobile devices.

However, there are also downsides to consider with digital vaccine passes:

• Risk of identity theft if digital systems are hacked.
• Need standardized platforms across states and businesses.
• Could discriminate against groups with less digital access.
• Privacy concerns about data tracking.

There are good arguments on both sides. The best solution may be offering both digital credentials and limited paper cards for those who need them.

Should Vaccine Requirements Be Mandated Nationally?

There are reasonable cases for and against a federal vaccine mandate:

Arguments for a national mandate

• Would significantly increase vaccination rates across the country.
• Would create consistent standards instead of patchwork of policies.
• Could help halt future COVID-19 variants and end the pandemic sooner.
• Might be necessary if voluntary measures fail.

Arguments against a national mandate

• Infringes on personal liberty for those who don’t want vaccines.
• Hard to enforce uniformly across entire country.
• Could overwhelm already strained testing capacity.
• May be too late to impact Delta wave.

Reasonable people can disagree on whether the public health benefits outweigh the ethics and feasibility concerns. So far the Biden administration has favored more limited vaccine requirements.

What Are the Penalties If You Get Caught Using a Fake Vaccine Card?

The exact penalties for using counterfeit COVID vaccine credentials depend on state laws and where the offense occurs. Possible consequences include:

• Criminal charges – Federal charges could include up to 5 years in prison and $5,000 fines for uses like air travel. State or local prosecutors may also file charges.
• Civil fines – States like Hawaii have passed laws imposing fines of up to $5,000 for fake vaccine documents.
• Terminated from jobs – Private and public employers can fire workers for falsifying vaccine records.
• Expelled from school – Universities have threatened expulsion for students caught with fake vaccine cards.
• Banned from venues/events – Establishments could ban patrons caught with fraudulent vaccine proof.

While enforcement is still uneven, the risks are increasing as more entities work to identify fake credentials.

Is It Unethical to Buy or Sell Fake Vaccine Cards?

There are reasonable ethical arguments on both sides of this issue:

Arguments it is unethical

• Helps spread COVID-19 risks to others.
• Unfairly advantages the unvaccinated over those who got shots.
• Disrespects mandates enacted for public health.
• Devalues and disincentivizes vaccination.
• Can promote broader mistrust in institutions.

Arguments it is ethical

• Helps preserve personal freedom of choice.
• Provides income to sellers struggling economically.
• Let’s individuals access venues barring unvaccinated.
• Avoids overreach by government or businesses.

There are reasonable ethical points on both sides. In the end, it is an individual decision people will weigh differently based on their values and circumstances.