April 19, 2021
Carson
City, NV
- Today, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford called on
OfferUp, an online mobile marketplace, to act immediately to prevent fraudulent
or blank COVID-19 vaccine cards from being sold on its platform. AG Ford and a
bipartisan coalition of 42 attorneys general raised concerns about the public
health risks of these fake cards in a letter to the company.
The fake cards appear to be official because
they include the logos for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
and the Department of Health. However, using these deceptive cards violates
many state laws which provide for injunctive relief, damages, and other
penalties for such conduct.
“Earlier this month, I warned Nevadans about
fake vaccination cards and sent a letter to Twitter, eBay, and Shopify to
prevent people from selling these fraudulent cards,” said AG Ford. “Today, I’m
urging OfferUp to the do the same. Nevadans, making these fake cards is illegal
and could put our entire health and safety plan at risk. Please be wary of
misinformation and file a complaint with my office if you come across any scams
related to COVID-19.”
Legitimate vaccination cards are given by
providers when they administer the vaccine. Individuals who buy fake cards can
have their own information added to the card or add it in themselves, so it
appears they have been vaccinated when they have not. These deceptive cards
threaten the health of our communities; delay our ability to protect from the
virus; and violate many state laws.
In their letter, the attorneys general urge
OfferUp to:
Monitor its platform for ads or links
selling blank or fraudulently completed vaccination cards;
Promptly take down ads or links that are
selling cards; and
Preserve records and information about
the ads and the people who were selling them.
To learn more about fake vaccination
cards and how to keep your identity private, watch AG Ford’s video.
AG Ford is joined by the following attorneys
general in sending this letter to OfferUp: Alaska, Arkansas, California,
Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Guam,
Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia,
Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
A copy of the letter is attached.
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