45 Attorneys General, including Colorado, cracking down on fake COVID-19 vaccine cards

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. (KRDO) --To prevent fraudulent vaccine cards from circulating online, 45 attorneys general, including Colorado's Phil Weiser, are calling on social media and tech companies to crack down.

"During this pandemic, we’ve seen time after time fraudsters take advantage of people who are vulnerable," Weiser said.

In a letter to the CEO's of Twitter, Shopify and eBay, officials ask that companies take action to prevent the sales of fake vaccine cards on their platforms.

"It has come to our attention that your platforms are being used to market and sell blank or fraudulently completed COVID vaccine cards bearing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention logo," the letter reads.

Officials have asked the companies to find and remove ads or links being used to sell the fraudulent cards on their platforms and to keep records, "such as the content, username, and actual user identity, pertaining to any such ads or links."

"We want to use the extent of our authority to go after fraudsters...If we can track down a fraudster who is engaging in any number of schemes, and we've seen a lot during the pandemic, including putting out their false vaccine cards, we will work to hold them accountable," Weiser said.

Under state law, Weiser said Coloradans buying or selling these cards can be prosecuted for fraud.

The FBI has also issued similar guidance recently, citing a federal law against falsifying government logos. If charged, a person could face hefty fines and up to five years in jail.

"As to whether we have the best system for secure cards, obviously we don’t have ideal security in the vaccines that are now being given with the cards people are getting. But, unfortunately we are where we are."

Weiser said the biggest issue currently is the potential harm these fake cards could have on community trust and statewide vaccination efforts.

"That assurance can be undermined if the supposed vaccinated person really has a fraudulent card and this is something that we don’t want to see happening."

To report a fraudulent vaccine card or any other COVID-19 related scam, visit StopFraudColorado.gov.