Black Market Fake Vaccine Card Sales Rise Amid Delta Variation

Since March 2021, the CPR has reported a 257% increase in the number of sellers using cloud-based instant messaging software Telegram to advertise fake vaccination cards, as pressure to get vaccinated increases. Fake CDC, NHS, and EU Digital COVID cards are sold for $ 100 and can be purchased with PayPal or a cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin. Fake COVID-19 PCR tests are also offered.

The CPR said black market groups averaged 100,000 subscribers each, with some groups exceeding 450,000 subscribers, a 566% increase from March, when the cards were sold for nearly $ 200 each. They noted that Telegram is the most commonly used digital marketplace for cards, with sellers based in the US, UK, Switzerland, Pakistan, Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Indonesia. and in France, the majority being sold in European countries.

Prior to March, most fake certificates were sold on the darknet, the CPR said.

Oded Vanunu, head of product vulnerability research at CPR, said the group is considering moving dark web sales to Telegram and similar services such as WhatsApp.

“We have been studying the darknet and Telegram for coronavirus-related services all year round,” Vanunu said. “Right now, fake vaccination cards for almost all countries are now available for purchase. All you have to do is list the country you are from and what you want. Sellers choose to advertise and do business on Telegram because it fits their distribution. Telegram is less technical to use than the darknet and can reach an excessive number of people, quickly. We believe the larger market push is fueled by the rapidly spreading Delta variant and the urgency for everyone to get vaccinated. Indeed, there are people who do not want to be vaccinated, but who still want the freedoms that come with proof of vaccination. These people are turning more and more to the darknet and Telegram in the scores. Since March, the prices of fake vaccination cards have dropped by half, and online groups for these fraudulent coronavirus services number hundreds of thousands. I strongly recommend that people do not hire these salespeople for anything, as these salespeople don’t just sell you fake vaccination cards.