-Angelot Ndongmo-

Cousins!

Looks like fake vaccine cards are the new bag. The demand for these counterfeit cards have surged almost as fast as the Omicron variant!

NPR reports the FBI has stated “unauthorized use of an official government agency’s seal can be punished with a fine or up to five years in prison.”
They previously stated “By misrepresenting yourself as vaccinated when entering schools, mass transit, workplaces, gyms, or places of worship, you put yourself and others around you at risk of contracting COVID-19.”

The black market for vaccine cards is booming globally. Cards are being sold from $50 to $250, reports TMZ. Prices have soared since September because the demand has increased so much. Professionals studying and watching the trends, anticipate prices will climb even higher as Omicron spreads.

When the sales of cards began, transactions were not as out in the open, or transparent. Politics have gotten involved and emboldened sellers, who now offer them on a multitude of easily accessible platforms, even chat rooms.

President Biden urges people to get vaccinated as COVID cases will continue to rise. Web MD reveals that some individuals have resorted to travelling across borders using the fraudulent cards

Law experts warn that it is a “serious offense with extensive penalties, which could include possible jail time, travel bans, and thousands of dollars in fines.”

Though border officials will still allow you entry if found with a fake card, they will forward the information on to the Public Health Department which can investigate and fine individuals at their discretion.

Whew Cousins! How are you managing through the pandemic?