Good Question: What do you do if you spot a fake vaccine card?

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — This issue went away for a little bit earlier this summer when COVID cases were down and no one was really asking for vaccine proof.

However, the state of the pandemic is worse now. We have all these vaccine mandates with local stores and businesses asking for proof of vaccination to get in the door. That’s led to scams. people are looking to cash in on the black market for vaccine cards.

Those who don’t want to get vaccinated is also looking for ways to cut the rules to keep their job, go to concerts, shows or games. There are two huge issues with this.

It’s illegal.

A warning from State Attorney General Tish James says you could break "various federal and New York State laws."

The FBI puts this type of time under a section of U.S. code called "government seals wrongfully used and instruments wrongfully sealed."

"The use of a government agency seal and the unauthorized use of a government agency seal is illegal and it is punishable by a hefty fine and or up to five years in prison," said FBI Public Affairs Specialist Bridget Patton.

It’s also a health risk by lying to get bogus vaccine proof, you could be a real COVID spreader in a place you shouldn’t be.

A viewer asked News10NBC’s Brennan Somers about enforcement: What do you do if you suspect someone is using a fake covid vaccine card?

You have a few options.

If you spot a fake vaccine card in person or something suspicious about one online you can get in contact with the state AG’s office (1-800-771-7755 or filing a complaint online).

You can send a tip to the office of the inspector general of the department of health and human services (1-800-HHS-TIPS or www.oig.hhs.gov).

You can also file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Just this week we told you about two women, including a self-described "Antivaxmomma" and an urgent care worker on Long Island, arrested in a COVID card scheme.

Prosecutors say they sold and registered fake vaccine records for healthcare workers.

They also charged 13 people with buying the bogus cards from them on Instagram.