U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents seized more fake COVID-19 vaccination cards in Memphis last week, the latest seizure in a city where the agency says thousands of the counterfeit cards have been found this year.
The agency said in a statement that officers in Memphis found a suspicious shipment shipped from Shenzhen, China, on its way to the central business district of New Orleans. The shipment’s manifest read “PAPER CARD, PAPER” and officers, “already knew what it was.” Inside, they found 51 counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards.
“The cards have blanks for the recipient’s name and birthdate, the vaccine maker, lot number, and date and place the shot was given, as well as the Centers for Disease Control logo in the upper right corner. However, there were typos, unfinished words and some of the Spanish verbiage on the back was misspelled,” the agency’s press release stated.
What made it It was obvious the vaccine cards were fake was since they weren’t sent from the CDC or any medical entity, the agency’s statement said.
This isn’t the first time the counterfeit vaccination cards have been found going through the city either. In total, agents in Memphis have seized 121 packages carrying a combined 3,017 fake vaccination cards this year.
Officials said they have been found at the city’s port in packs of 20, 51 or 100, and there doesn’t appear to be any attempt to conceal them. The manifests of the packages, which have always come from China so far, are described as “Paper Greeting Cards/ Use For-Greeting Card,” or “PAPER PAPER CARD.”
In March, the FBI said selling, buying or using fake vaccine cards is illegal. However, federal customs agents say the fake cards have been seized all throughout the country.
Memphis’ port director Michael Neipert said those who order the fake cards are wasting officers’ time as they are trying to seize drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamines.
“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. CBP Officers at the Area Port of Memphis remain committed to stopping counterfeit smuggling and helping to protect our communities,” he said.
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The Associated Press reported on Sunday Sen. Chuck Schumer demanded federal officials crack down on the selling and buying of fake vaccine cards, an offense that could land people in federal prison.
Schools and universities across the country are requiring students to prove they were vaccinated against COVID-19, worrying some officials that students may submit fake cards. Some schools have said submitting false vaccine records could result in disciplinary actions, including expulsion.
In July, Juli Mazi, a naturopathic physician in California, was arrested and charged for selling fake COVID-19 treatments and fraudulent vaccine cards, according to the Department of Justice. The department said it was the first federal criminal fraud prosecution related to homeoprophylaxis immunizations and fraudulent CDC COVID-19 vaccination cards.
Contributing: Edward Segarra; Associated Press
Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jord_mendoza.
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