Attorney General Ellison fights sales of fake vaccination cards

Joins bipartisan group of 45 AGs in asking Twitter, eBay, Shopify to act immediately to stop sales of fraudulent CDC vaccination cards

April 1, 2020 (SAINT PAUL) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison today called on internet platforms to act immediately to prevent people from selling fraudulent CDC vaccination cards on their platforms. He joined a bipartisan coalition of 45 attorneys general in raising concerns about the public-health risks of these fake cards in a letter to the CEOs of Twitter, eBay, and Shopify

“Every Minnesotan has a responsibility to stop the spread of COVID-19, and almost all Minnesotans have been doing their part. Vaccines are helping us make great progress — if people continue to observe all laws and precautions, and if they get vaccinated, which is an act of care not only for themselves but for their communities. People are free not to be vaccinated if they wish, but they should not be free to fake their vaccination status. These companies must do their part to keep them from doing so,” Attorney General Ellison said. 

“Minnesotans are people who care for each other. People who fake their vaccination status disrespect the vast majority of Minnesotans who have made sacrifices to care for each other during the pandemic — especially those families that have paid the ultimate sacrifice with the loss of a loved one. We must all do everything we can to put an immediate halt to this practice. That includes Twitter, eBay, Shopify, and any online platform that is allowing it to continue,” he concluded. 

Legitimate vaccination cards are given by providers when they administer the vaccine. People 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, slow progress in getting people protected from the virus, and violate many state laws. 

In the letter, Attorney General Ellison and the bipartisan coalition ask the CEOs to: 

Attorney General Ellison is joined in sending this letter, which was led by North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery, by the attorneys general of Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.