Experts have recorded a drop in prices for fake COVID-certificates

Vadim Solovyov, head of the Positive Technologies information security threat analysis group, told RBC that the cost of a fake COVID vaccination certificate with European vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson / Janssen) has also decreased. In 2021, the average cost of the service for issuing a certificate of vaccination with European vaccines was €300. In 2022, new market participants offer the same services for an average of €180. In general, the number of ads on the market increased by 1.5 times compared to the same period in 2021. This is due to the fact that old players retain their positions, plus newcomers are added to them, expanding the offer due to this, Solovyov believes. “The decrease in cost may be due to the fact that new players on the dark web are dumping the price or with the appearance of scammers who will not send a certificate when receiving money,” he suggested.

Nikolai Bespalov, Development Director of the analytical company RNC Pharma, in a conversation with RBC pointed out that it was impossible to check the performance of a purchased foreign vaccination certificate. “It is quite possible that this is just a piece of paper and nothing more. That is, a person will simply lose money. Or maybe they really do the wiring there, with entry into the database and with the possibility of verification. As they say, here a person acts at his own peril and risk. But then again, a solvent audience would rather prefer to actually get vaccinated abroad, especially since this is not a problem, ”he said.

One of the methods used by scammers is Telegram bots. Group IB describes the work of one of them. In social networks and on dating services, attackers offer to buy a fake vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test. They send an “invitation code” and direct the user to a dialogue with the bot. The unique “invitation code” in this case is This code is the unique identifier of an ordinary member of the fraudulent group, who will then receive a reward from the amount of money stolen from the victim.

After entering the code, the bot offers the victim an extensive list of services: the purchase of vaccination certificates and a certificate of a recovered person allegedly marked in the registry, positive and negative PCR tests through official clinics, as well as the opportunity to replenish their “wallet.” “After selecting the desired “service”, the bot generates an invoice and offers to pay it by transfer to an individual’s electronic wallet. Naturally, the money will go to the attackers and the “service” will not be provided. At the same time, the victim, most likely, will not report fraud, since then she will have to admit her intentions to circumvent the law, ”said Yulia Zingan, an analyst at CERT-GIB. The cost of obtaining a certificate of vaccination with the Sputnik-V vaccine with a QR code and with “posting to the registry” from fraudsters is 9,990 rubles, and for Sputnik Light – 7,990 rubles. Most of all, you will have to pay for a certificate of a recovered person – 14,990 rubles. A positive PCR test costs 1990 rubles, a negative PCR test costs 1290 rubles, a “fake” PCR test costs 990 rubles.

A SuperJob poll in September showed that 32% of Russians do not condemn those who bought a fake coronavirus vaccination certificate. 41% of the respondents condemned those who purchased false documents.

Sellers and buyers of fake certificates face criminal liability. Holders of such documents are prosecuted under article 327 of the Criminal Code (forgery, production or circulation of forged documents, state awards, stamps, seals or letterheads). For the purchase and possession of a fictitious certificate, they face up to one year in prison.