Fake Vaccine Cards Sold Online, Attorney General Warns

Chicago IL

31 March, 2021

5:37 PM

Description

ILLINOIS— Almost six million vaccines have been administered in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. For those on Facebook or other sites, it may feel as though that many vaccine card "selfies" have been uploaded to social media, but a statement from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Wednesday warned residents against posting photos of their cards online due to potential fraud and other scams. Raoul said his office is looking into reports of fake vaccination cards being sold on the internet. Additionally, images of official cards may include names, birth dates and addresses that can help scammers gain access to sensitive information. "People are understandably excited about the vaccine and the hope it offers," Raoul said in a statement, "but they should refrain from posting pictures of their vaccine cards on social media, as thieves can use the information on the cards to access and steal additional personal information." Other fraud surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine rollout includes requiring money for a vaccine, which is free to all citizens, and fake websites and text messages claiming to sell extra doses. The attorney general's office urged people to report any of these scams to their consumer fraud hotline at 1-800-386-5438, or by filing an online complaint. Find out where Illinois residents can get a vaccine.