IDAHO — A new social media trend featuring people posting their COVID-19 vaccination card is spreading, but the Better Business Bureau has a warning for those hoping to join the trend.
"What's a little bit concerning is that card has a lot of personal information on it. It has your first and last name and date of birth, and beyond that, it can show where you got the vaccine, and so if that information is open to the public, it can land in the wrong hands," Rebecca Barr, Communications Manager for the BBB Northwest and Pacific, said.
Barr said sharing the information on the card could put you at risk of potential identity theft.
"Instead of posting the picture of the card with this information, post the sticker showing you got vaccinated," Barr said. "I know some of my friends have posted a picture of actually getting the shot. Blur it out, crop it out, or just post something else, like the sticker."
Another concern for the BBB is reports of scammers selling fake COVID-19 vaccination cards on online purchasing websites.
"Scam artists were selling fake vaccine cards on eBay. That just got pulled off, but if you're posting these cards, it makes it easier for a con artist to know what these cards look like and what information is on them where they can just steal a copy of them and start selling them to other people," Barr said.
A spokesperson with Saint Alphonsus said the CDC COVID-19 vaccination cards work as a record-keeping document for patients and serves as an appointment reminder to get the second dose of the vaccine.
BBB also recommends that people should be aware of their social media privacy settings.
"Really look at your social media privacy settings. Whatever you share out there, make sure it's only going to the friends you're choosing to connect with," Barr said.
Other COVID-19 vaccine-related scams BBB has been seeing are people getting calls, emails, or text messages to set up a vaccine appointment.
"Trying to get people (to) quote 'cut the line' so if you want early access or get the shot before anyone else, or before you're supposed to get it, you can pay a small fee, and we'll you get the vaccine. We (have) also seen people, scammers selling the vaccine online, which is all a scam," Barr said.
