Fake COVID-19 Vaccine Card Scam In PA: What To Know

• Max Bennett, Patch Staff

PENNSYLVANIA — A new scam is making the rounds online, and Pennsylvania's top cop is warning residents.

Fake coronavirus vaccination cards are now being touted online, and with the new scam comes a warning from Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro. Speaking with the New York Times, Shapiro said the bogus vaccination cards could violate state laws regarding impersonation.

The FBI said it has begun investigating a growing trend of online retailers and individuals selling the fake vaccination cards, as well as posts encouraging people to print their own cards at home. In addition to violating federal law, the fake cards may put people's health at risk if an unvaccinated person misrepresents themselves as having protection against the coronavirus, Shapiro said.

"We want to see them stop immediately," Shapiro referring to those marketing the fake cards. "And we want to see the companies take serious and immediate action."

Shapiro told The Times the fake cards are dangerous and undermine the state's public health efforts. The FBI recently issued a warning regarding the fake cards.

Shapiro and 45 other state attorneys general recently issued a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke, and eBay CEO Jamie Iannone regarding the fake vaccination cards being marketed on their platforms.

In the letter, the AGs called on the tech companies to crack down on the marketing of misinformation and fake vaccination cards.

"We are deeply concerned about this use of your platforms to spread false and misleading information regarding COVID vaccines," the letter reads. "The false and deceptive marketing and sales of fake COVID vaccine cards threatens the health of our communities, slows progress in getting our residents protected from the virus, and are a violation of the laws of many states."

The AGs called for a response by Friday from the CEOs.