offering up to RM1,000 for fake vaccination certificates. Other unscrupulous parties forge vaccination certificates, steal others’ certificates, or ask friends to “lend” them their vaccination statuses to gain access to premises.
“You may think that you are helping your friends to dine outside, but you are actually putting your friend and others in danger,” says Dr Sonny, as both the unvaccinated person, and those who come in contact with the unvaccinated person are now at higher risk of exposure to Covid-19. Dr Sonny explains that if a vaccinated person allows an unvaccinated person to use their digital certificate, it is not identity theft as no data was stolen. However, it is a case of misusing technology and may constitute fraud.
“Simply coming up with rules will not really work because this requires the involvement of industries, technology players, and consumers themselves,” says Dr Sonny.