Cybercriminals have started trafficking in vaccines and fake certificates, according to a new report.
The darknet – a part of the internet that is not visible to search engines and requires a special browser to access it – has seen a 300% increase in fake vaccine ads in the past three months, under the guise of brands like Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Sputnik and SinoPharm, according to Check Point Research (CPR), an IT security company.
“It is clear to us that the target audience for darknet vaccine providers is actually resellers, not necessarily the general public,” Check Point spokesman Ekram Ahmed told Fox News.
Vendors appear to be interested in establishing long-term relationships, where they deliver vaccines in large quantities over a long period of time. Vaccine prices range between $ 500 and $ 600.
The darknet has seen a 300% increase in fake vaccine ads in the past three months, according to an IT security company. (iStock)
“Vendors want soldiers on the ground, in various geographies, to distribute the full spectrum of coronavirus services: vaccines, vaccination certificates and negative COVID tests,” said Ahmed.
And the business boom related to vaccines on the darknet is recent, according to CPR.
Check Point tried to buy a vaccine. The vendor first insisted on using an end-to-end encrypted service. Then, Check Point initiated a dialogue with the supplier, which assured Check Point that it would receive the vaccine and that the temperature would be regulated during transport.
BITCOIN SCAMS NET BIGGEST PAYMENTS WHEN MAN LOSES $ 560G TO FAKE ELON MUSK
Then the seller asked for payment via Bitcoin. “We pay them. They gave us a FedEx tracking number. The transaction was made last week and we still haven’t received the vaccine we ordered, ”according to Ahmed.
And activity on the darknet has expanded to include fake vaccination cards from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for $ 200 per card, the CPR said.
Cybercriminals have started trafficking in vaccines and fake certificates, according to a new report. (iStock)
Other Darknet activities include fake COVID-19 negative tests sold as a “buy two and get a third free” offer and a DIY version of a negative COVID-19 test that can be generated in less than 30 minutes for $ 25 .
A hacker forum indicated that “We do negative COVID tests for travelers abroad and to get a job. Everything is done in 24 hours.”
Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission issued an opinion on COVID vaccine scams.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
“Don’t pay to sign up for the vaccine. Anyone who asks for a payment to put you on a list, make an appointment for you or reserve a place in line is a scammer,” said the FTC.
And always ignore the advertisements for the sale of the COVID-19 vaccine because that’s just not how you get the vaccine, the FTC said. The vaccine is only available in locations approved by the federal and state government.