CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- You got your COVID-19 vaccine and you are excited to share the news. You take a selfie holding your vaccination card and post it to Facebook, Instagram, or another social media platform. But now you can be in danger of identity theft.
The Better Business Bureau is warning people not to share their vaccination card on social media, as the self-identifying information on it makes you vulnerable to identity theft and can help scammers create phony versions.
“Unfortunately, your card has your full name and birthday on it, as well as information about where you got your vaccine. If your social media privacy settings aren’t set high, you may be giving valuable information away for anyone to use," said Steve Bernas, president and CEO of BBB of Chicago and Northern Illinois.
The BBB added that sharing your personal information isn’t the only issue.
According to the BBB, scammers in Great Britain were caught selling fake vaccination cards on eBay and TikTok. It’s only a matter of time before similar cons come to the United States and Canada. Posting photos of your card can help provide scammers with information they can use to create and sell phony ones.
Instead of posting a photo of your vaccination card, the BBB suggests people share their vaccine sticker or use a profile picture frame instead.
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The BBB also reminds people to review their security settings on all social media platforms. If you only want friends and family to see your posts, be sure that’s how your privacy settings are configured.
The BBB has identified many ways in which scammers are cashing in the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help others avoid falling victim to scams.