A man is facing fraud charges for allegedly selling over 600 fake COVID-19 vaccine cards that he advertised on Facebook for $75 each.
Amar Shabazz, 23, from Maryland, USA, purchased the fake vaccination cards through a foreign online marketplace in June and immediately started advertising them on his social media accounts, federal prosecutors said.
A month later, he posted “I sell proof of vaccination cards” underneath a link to a news article about restaurants requiring proof of vaccination.
A private text message also shows Shabazz telling one potential buyer that he had run out of vaccine cards.
“Made 300 today. I’m sold out. Just bought 500 more cards. 60×500 is $30k. I’m gonna be rich,” he told the person, prosecutors said.
Shabazz, who was only released from prison in April after serving time for possession of child porn, allegedly delivered the vaccine cards via the US Postal Service, New York Post reports.
In late August, amid a crackdown on fake vaccine cards, Customs and Border Patrol agents seized a package addressed to “Mar Sha” and linked to Shabazz’ phone number.
After being alerted that his package was delayed by the shipping company, Shabazz allegedly searched online for whether customs were inspecting packages for vaccine cards.
He then placed another order for vaccine cards from the same website under the name “Ace Boogie,” prosecutors said.
The FBI raided his home in October.
Shabazz is facing up to 20 years each for mail fraud and obstruction of justice if convicted in the vaccine card case.
