Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Hacker makes stunning chunk of cash creating fake COVID-19 vaccine orders online

Hacker makes stunning chunk of cash creating fake COVID-19 vaccine orders online

A hacker made about $767,000 creating fake coronavirus vaccine orders on the dark web, according to researchers.

The hacker on March 23 created fake COVID-19 vaccine orders before deleting his seller account and walking away with $762,000 worth in bitcoin, according to Check Point Research.

“The dark web is booming with activity related to coronavirus vaccine services," Check Point Research spokesperson Ekram Ahmed said in a statement. "Vendors are offering fake vaccines, vaccination certificates and negative COVID-19 tests in scores. It’s clear to us that the target market for the dark web vendors are more dealers than the public at large."

Selling COVID-19 vaccination cards and negative test papers


Ahmed added that in Check Point's negotiations on the dark web ‒ which consists of discreet websites that are only accessible with specific software or authorization ‒ vendors tried to set up long-term relationships with buyers in which they could trust vendors "to deliver coronavirus goods over a longer period of time."

"Ultimately, these vendors want foot soldiers on the ground to scale distribution of their coronavirus services supply chain. The activity around coronavirus services has so much traction on the dark web that even hackers are trying to take advantage," the spokesperson said.

The administrator of the dark web COVID-19 services market on which the hacker in question was operating had to shut down the entire market until "the attack vector is fully remedied and identified," though he shutdown has not stopped the sale of certain COVID-19-related goods on the same web address, Check Point found.

First announcement by administrator that the Market is down March 23rd


Vendors are also selling COVID-19 vaccine "passports" and negative test documents on the dark web marketplace.

Fake vaccine "passports" are available for $250; buyers simply send their information and pay the vendor and receive documents in return, according to Check Point. Additionally, buyers can receive fake COVID-19 tests for as little as $25, and there are "multiple" counterfeit vaccines for sale between $500 and $1,000 per dose. Vaccine variants being advertised include the AstraZeneca, Sputnik, SINOPHARM and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

There is a strong demand for these documents and for vaccine variants as people await permission to travel, attend large events and get new jobs, according to researchers.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
Intel Reports Revenue Beats but Sees 81% Rise in Losses
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
Tulsi Gabbard Unveils Evidence Alleging Political Manipulation of Intelligence During Trump Administration
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Shift to Cane Sugar in U.S. Production
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi K2: A New Open-Source AI Model
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
×