Los Angeles (CBSLA) With proof of COVID-19 vaccination now required in bars, breweries and different companies in Los Angeles, a CBS2 investigation has uncovered a rising black marketplace for counterfeit or stolen vaccination playing cards.
(Credit score: CBS)
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David Goldstein of CBS2 discovered that vaccination playing cards are marketed on web sites that promise a fast course of and reasonably priced costs. Some web sites even declare the playing cards are registered with the state, with one vendor promising, “As soon as you have scanned the registered playing cards, it’s going to present your info that you simply took the image.” One other vendor claimed to work with medical doctors, one other even known as himself a health care provider.
Specialists say the marketplace for counterfeit or stolen CDC playing cards has skyrocketed with the town and federal authorities’s vaccination laws going into impact as a result of some individuals do not need to be vaccinated. Town of Los Angeles has one of many strictest vaccination laws within the nation, which now requires proof of vaccination simply to get into eating places, gyms, and the indoor operations of different companies.
Some sellers are brash with their ads, others are extra crafty and faux to be promoting puppies or vaccination card holders. However when contacted, they confirmed that they had “actual playing cards” that their shoppers used for work, school enrollment, and hospital entry.
Dr. Marc Kerner stated utilizing fraudulent playing cards to say you might have been vaccinated when it isn’t is a violation of public belief.
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“It makes it worrying to know that perhaps a proportion of the individuals right here have counterfeit playing cards,” Kerner stated.
Particular Agent Wealthy Alexander investigates fraud for the LA FBI workplace.
“There are not any safety seals on them, so it could be troublesome to indicate one particular person to a different particular person and ensure the vaccination card at that time,” Alexander stated.
And folks really use the playing cards. Evander Kane of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks has been suspended for 21 days for claiming he was vaccinated with such a card.
“It might probably actually cut back belief in these vaccination playing cards, however how widespread this drawback is presently is a good unknown,” stated Alexander Goldstein.
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There are presently no penalties for utilizing a cast or stolen vaccination card. At present, each the CDC and the state state that the one violation concerning the usage of such a card could be the unauthorized use of the company’s title and seal. Nonetheless, utilizing them with an employer, for instance, would probably violate an organization coverage.
