{"id":43526,"date":"2021-10-20T15:38:56","date_gmt":"2021-10-20T15:38:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packetstormsecurity.com\/news\/view\/32741\/Black-Market-Cashes-In-On-Fake-COVID-19-Vaccination-Records.html"},"modified":"2021-10-20T15:38:56","modified_gmt":"2021-10-20T15:38:56","slug":"black-market-cashes-in-on-fake-covid-19-vaccination-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.threatshub.org\/blog\/black-market-cashes-in-on-fake-covid-19-vaccination-records\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Market Cashes In On Fake COVID-19 Vaccination Records"},"content":{"rendered":"

Researchers have uncovered a lively trade online in the sale of fake vaccination records and passports. <\/p>\n

COVID-19 prompted panic buying and price hikes for basic necessities worldwide when the pandemic first hit. However, once vaccines were developed, a market was born out of consumers who wanted their shots as quickly as possible. <\/p>\n

Not everyone wants a vaccination, however, and with international restrictions imposed for non-vaccinated travelers, some are looking for alternatives — including fake records. <\/p>\n

According to research conducted by Intel 471<\/a>, the vaccine trade is still strong, but numerous cybercriminals are now also offering fake COVID-19 vaccine certifications focused on US and EU entry requirements. <\/p>\n

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccination cards<\/a> are issued by vaccine providers in a paper format. The EU also offers a vaccine passport, the EU Digital COVID Certificate<\/a>, which is issued to European residents in a paper and digital form.  <\/p>\n

Underground forum posts advertise their fake certificate wares together with coronavirus claims and misinformation, such as that the “minority ruling is trying to destroy mankind” and the vaccines are “poisonous.” <\/p>\n

“We do this to help people who are in critical situations and want to travel urgently,” one advert read.  <\/p>\n

<\/section>\n

On one forum, a trader is offering counterfeit CDC cards, whereas, on another, EU and specifically French documents containing QR codes are being displayed.  <\/p>\n

The QR codes on legitimate vaccine passports are designed to pull vaccination records from healthcare providers. However, these codes may go to fraudulent websites containing fake records. <\/p>\n

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