The exciting news is that over 50% of the population in the Massachusetts have been fully vaccinated for Covid! The worrisome news is the risk of fraud related to the inoculations is also on the rise. The vaccination card you received at the time of your inoculation, issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a prime target. Typically, the card includes your full name, birthdate, patient number, vaccine location and other information that scammers can use to steal your identify and commit fraud.
In their excitement to share their news, we have seen many people post pictures of their vaccination cards online. While it may seem like an innocent post to most, to scammers it is an effortless way for them to steal your personal information. Especially if your privacy settings on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. are not set to private, allowing the image to be widely shared. Instead of posting an image of your card we suggest you create a profile frame “I got my Covid 19 vaccine”. This way you can share your exciting news and keep your personal information safe.
What should you do if you have already posted a photo of your vaccination card?
- Remove the post immediately.
- If you still want to share your vaccination news, create a profile frame, or replace the image with “I’ve Been Vaccinated” sticker.
- Change your social media security settings to private.
- Monitor your credit. The information scammers steal today is often not used until a much later date.
According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), posting pictures of your vaccination card can also help scammers create phony vaccination cards. Fake cards are popping up for sale on websites and social media.
Finally, as with other important documents like passport keep your vaccination card under lock and key.