With the tightened COVID-19 restrictions that require proof of vaccination for employees and public places, there is also an increase in fraudulent vaccine cards.
Axoios/Ipsos published a poll on Oct.12 that finds 6 percent of Americans personally know an unvaccinated individual with a fake vaccine card. Although COVID-19 vaccinations are available to Americans for free, unvaccinated individuals seeking to purchase fraudulent vaccination cards may cost hundreds of dollars and time in prison.
Unauthorized use of a government agency's seal is illegal at the federal level, meaning fake vaccination cards can lead to fines and up to 5 years in prison in addition to local laws. On the other hand, selling legitimate vaccine cards to the unvaccinated could also result in a 10-year prison sentence, while lying to an investigating officer carries a potential five-year penalty.
U.S Attorney General Merrick B. Garland established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance enforcement efforts against COVID-19 related fraud.
“The Department of Justice will use every available federal tool—including criminal, civil, and administrative actions—to combat and prevent COVID-19 related fraud. We look forward to working with our federal government colleagues to bring to justice those who seek to profit unlawfully from the pandemic,” wrote Attorney General Garland in a memo announcing the Task Force.
The pandemic has given rise to a variety of forms of fraud, including peddling fake vaccines, selling millions of counterfeit N95 masks and other personal protective equipment to heath care facilities desperate to protect frontline workers according to Garland.
A federal grand jury indicted 53 year-old Tammy McDonald, who faces up to 15 years in prison for each count of producing fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination record cards and up to five years for lying to federal investigators.
More than 204 million people throughout the U.S. are fully vaccinated and 60.8 million have received a booster dose, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A poll published on Nov.23 by Axoios/Ipsos found about 53 percent of unvaccinated Americans say they would not get the COVID-19 vaccine or take the anti-viral pill if they contracted COVID.
The use of fake vaccine cards can be reported to the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS or oig.hhs.gov, by filing a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, or by notifying the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
