Story at a glance
- Authorities have seized more than 3,000 fake COVID-19 vaccination cards at the Anchorage airport.
- Officials said the counterfeit cards were shipped from China and are “low quality.”
- The cards arrived in small shipments with around 25 to 30 cards per package.
Authorities have seized more than 3,000 fake COVID-19 vaccination cards at the Anchorage, Alaska, airport in the past week, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials.
The agency said in a statement Wednesday that the cards, which were shipped from China, are made of “low quality printing and closely resemble the authentic Center for Disease Control (CDC) certificates.”
“Getting these fraudulent cards off the streets and out of the hands of those who would then sell them is important for the safety of the American public,” Lance Robinson, Area Port Director of the Area Port of Anchorage said in the statement. “Looking out for the welfare of our fellow Alaskans is one of the many and varied responsibilities CBP is proud to take on.”
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CBP spokesman Jamie Ruiz said the cards seized over the past week arrived in small shipments — between 135 and 150 total packages — with about 20 to 25 cards per package, The Associated Press (AP) reported.
Ruiz told the AP that another 3,600 fake cards were recently discovered in facilities in Memphis, Tenn.
The agency warned that using a counterfeit vaccination card employs the unauthorized use of a government seal. Agents also expressed concern that it is diverting time and diverting resources from other critical areas.
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“If you do not wish to receive a vaccine, that is your decision. But don’t order a counterfeit, waste my officer’s time, break the law, and misrepresent yourself,” Michael Neipert, Area Port Director of Memphis, said in a statement regarding a recent seizure.
“But just know that when you order a fake vaxx card, you are using my officers time as they also seize fentanyl and methamphetamines,” he concluded.
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