Fake vax certificate again calls for blockchain-based solutions in Australia

As fake Australian coronavirus vaccination certificates are circulating on the Internet, local experts have called for the introduction of blockchain-based vaccine passports across the country to ensure the validity of the country’s “Covid Certificate” system.

A report in The Australian Quote Fraudsters claimed to have sold more than 200 fake COVID-19 certificates at a price of $120 or more each and gained interest from at least 900 other potential customers. Fraudsters promote their products so convincingly that “you will be the only one who knows that you have not been vaccinated” and claim that they can arrange for doctors to enter false vaccination records into the Australian Immunization Registry.

The fraudster is not without competitors. Another fraudulent Covid certificate provider claims to have cooperated with doctors in Australia, Europe, the United States and parts of Asia to provide false vaccination records internationally.

Other sellers claim to provide more cost-effective solutions to bypass the health guidelines, claiming to sell tampered vaccination records directly from the Apple App Store for $12.99.

According to Robert Potter of Internet 2.0, a network security company, Australia must use blockchain technology to ensure that its Covid certification system is not compromised. He urged Australian and international authorities to adopt a blockchain-based “non-replicable signature authorization”:

“We can come up with a foolproof system that only we can use, but we actually need a global system that everyone can use,” he said. “This will be the cryptographic equivalent of the hologram.”

Blockchain has been used to verify the status of Covid vaccines worldwide, and is currently being used in the United States, China, South Korea, And Colombia. Global technology group IBM has developed a blockchain-driven system integrated with Amadeus-an airline reservation system used by more than 450 airlines worldwide.

Karen Cohen, vice chairman of Blockchain Australia, believes that Covid certificates based on blockchain can pave the way for the safe sharing of health data on a global scale. statement: “As a global and secure way of sharing health data, this will be a great test case.”

related: The Chinese University of Hong Kong and ConsenSys create a COVID-19 digital passport

However, not everyone agrees that Australia needs a blockchain-based vaccination system. Hank Jongen, General Manager of Australian Services, asserted that the existing Covid certificate application provided by his organization contains “enhanced anti-fraud Function”.

“Any act of fraudulently creating COVID-19 digital certificates does not mean that our systems or personal data have been stolen,” Jongen said. “Where are the differences […] Service Australia will contact the provider to ensure the accuracy of this information and correct the record if necessary. “