Fake Covid Vaccination Cards on the Rise in US and Europe

MILAN – As Covid-19 vaccination warrants proliferate in the United States and Europe, scammers are selling fake vaccination certificates.

The U.S. government has said federal workers must be vaccinated or undergo regular testing, mask requirements and social distancing. California requires state employees to be vaccinated or tested at least once a week. New York State will follow soon, and New York City plans to require proof of vaccination for customers and staff at restaurants and gyms.

Employers such as Walt Disney Co., Walmart Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Tyson Foods Inc. require the vaccination of at least some of their employees.

Proof of vaccination is required in parts of the United States and Europe to dine indoors, go to museums, and attend major sporting events.

The spread of such rules created a market for counterfeit certificates for unvaccinated people. In recent weeks, schemes to sell illegal evidence of vaccination have multiplied on social media sites, messaging apps such as Telegram and on the dark web, according to government investigators and cybersecurity experts.