COVID Vaccine Fraud Concerns Rise as More People Become Eligible for Shots

• As more people get the coronavirus vaccine, the level of COVID vaccine fraud could rise, particularly around vaccine passport and scheduling apps and vaccination cards.
• Right now, there are no programs in the U.S. that use or require a vaccine passport app. If anyone receives a message about one, it is a scam trying to steal people’s credentials or get them to pay for a fake app or service.
• There are apps to schedule a vaccine. However, an app that asks for money or personal health information (PHI) should raise a red flag.
• Many people are posting pictures online of their vaccination cards once they’ve gotten the COVID shot. The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) does not recommend people post these photos unless they blur out their personal information to reduce identity risks.
• If anyone wants to learn more about COVID vaccine fraud concerns or believes they have been the victim of a COVID vaccine scam, they can contact the ITRC toll-free by phone (888.400.5530) or live-chat. Just go to www.idtheftcenter.org to get started.

The number of Americans receiving the COVID vaccine is on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), well over 100 million vaccines have been administered, and more than 12 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated. States across the U.S. are moving beyond limited groups to vaccinate the general public, leading to concerns over COVID vaccine fraud. There are several different ways identity criminals could attack.

Vaccine Passport & Scheduling Apps

There are no current programs in the U.S. that use or require a vaccine passport. While the World Health Organization (WHO) says the race is on to develop a vaccine passport, any phone calls or messages to download a COVID vaccine passport app is a scam. However, there are apps for vaccine scheduling, like the CDC’s Vaccine Schedules app and other healthcare apps. With that said, any app that asks for money or personal health information (PHI) could be suspect. Fake apps often attempt to either steal someone’s credentials, get them to pay for the fraudulent app, or use a fraudulent vaccine scheduling service.

Vaccination Cards

Another COVID vaccine fraud concern involves COVID vaccine cards. By now, most people have probably seen at least one of their friends, family members or co-workers post a picture online of their COVID vaccination card. COVID vaccine cards have personal information (name, birth date and vaccination location) on them that people need to safeguard. Posting vaccine cards could help scammers create and sell phony vaccination cards or even hack accounts. The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) recommends people remove or block sensitive information before they post their cards online.

According to a Better Business Bureau (BBB) alert, there have been no reports of fake vaccination cards sold in the U.S. However, in Great Britain, scammers have already been caught selling phony vaccination cards on eBay and TikTok.

How to Avoid a COVID Vaccine Scam

COVID vaccine scams based around fake websites and vaccines have been around since nearly the beginning of the global pandemic. There is no reason to believe the trend will decline as more COVID vaccines are administered. Consumers should be aware of the COVID vaccine fraud attempts and take the following steps to protect themselves:

• Do not download any apps that claim to be a vaccine passport.
• Only schedule vaccination appointments through official websites, a local health authority, or your medical provider. Services requiring payment to schedule an appointment are a sign of fraud.
• Do not post pictures of your vaccination card online unless the personal information is blocked or removed.
• Only get vaccinated from a licensed medical provider.
• Do not respond to any calls, emails or text messages about COVID vaccines that ask for your personal information. Also, don’t click on any links, attachments or files unless you initiated the contact. If in doubt, reach out to the entity directly to verify the validity of a message.

Contact the ITRC

For more information on COVID vaccine fraud concerns, or if someone believes they are the victim of a COVID vaccine scam, contact the ITRC toll-free by phone (888.400.5530) or live-chat. Visit our website for the latest news on COVID scams and other identity-related issues. All people have to do is go to www.idtheftcenter.org to get started.