Fraudulent vaccine passports are circulating in Quebec and the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC) is trying to pin those responsible.
Several investigations are underway to catch fraudsters, UPAC spokesperson Mathieu Galarneau said in a statement released Wednesday.
“Various fraudulent schemes” make it possible to forge false passports, but the UPAC does not wish to detail their nature in order “not to harm the collection of evidence and the reputation of people who could be involved”.
However, VaxiCode’s flaws are well known in the cybersecurity community. “If they forge fake passports, it’s from another province. You copy the piece of paper that is given in another province or another country, you go to a pharmacy, and you ask for the Quebec equivalent, recounts Patrick Rousseau Mathieu, co-founder of Hackfest communication. I too am able to make a copy in 5 minutes. »
Otherwise, a bribe offered to the right person in the health network makes it possible to obtain their pass without being vaccinated. “You go to the pharmacy. You’re offering $5,000. Give me the paper and don’t vaccinate me, explains Patrick Rousseau Mathieu. It’s been happening for months and months. »
Another way to get around the health rule is to use someone else’s QR code and make yourself a matching fake ID.
The community of Quebec hackers has detected “6 to 8 problems in the way the VaxiCode was developed”, estimates Mr. Rousseau Mathieu.
In addition to contravening the law on public health, people who commit these illegal maneuvers could be charged under several sections of the Criminal Code, in particular for production and use of false documents, breach of trust and corruption.
Anyone with information concerning the production or use of false vaccine passports is invited to contact UPAC via its website or by calling 1-844-541-UPAC.