As states continue to open up and endeavor to return to business as usual, COVID-19 vaccine passports are becoming hot commodities to gain entry into many establishments and venues. The rise in popularity for these digital “get out of jail” cards is also spawning a rise in fraudulent scams.

According to ABC News, experts say they are seeing an increase in internet action advertising phony vaccine passports for those who choose not to get the COVID-19 shot.

“The darknet is booming with activity related to the vaccines,” said Ekram Ahmed, a spokesperson for Check Point, an American-Israeli provider of products to ensure and monitor cyber security. “Cyber criminals are looking to capitalize on the public’s interest to both get the vaccine or avoid the vaccine.”

The pandemic has been plagued with fraud and scams surrounding COVID-19 testing and vaccines since the beginning of the crisis. Check Point reports that the number of fake online ads regarding vaccines has tripled since January, according to ABC News.

Now experts are worried that phony vaccine passports will be the next bogus surge on the web.

“It’s only a matter of time before hackers find a way to organize fraudulent activity for digital passports,” said Ahmed.

According to eye opening Check Point data, fake vaccine passports are already on sale for $250 and fake negative COVID-19 test results cost just $25 and are available from various sellers. All the users need to do is send in their personal information and their money.

New York is the first state to announce a digital vaccine passport to fast track the reopening of the economy. Gov. Andrew Cuomo presented the Excelsior Pass last week, saying that the IBM-designed digital phone app “is another tool in our new toolbox to the fight the virus while allowing more sectors of the economy to reopen safety and keeping personal information secure,” according to ABC News.

Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease expert in Palo Alto, California warned that people who do not want to get the COVID-19 vaccine may be prime candidates for false vaccine certificates.

“When you institute the use of a vaccine passport you are essentially forcing individuals to get vaccinated,” she said, adding that this will create a market for “falsifying information.” However other experts say that the vaccine cards would be a form of “immunity identity” and provide a real avenue to reap the benefits of normal daily activities, said ABC News.

According to Fast Company, vaccine or immunity passports may help the hard-hit tourism industry that has already lost over $1 trillion in revenues caused by lockdowns and quarantines. The passports may allow families to visit their loved ones and even return to the workplace with the assurance that everyone in proximity has been vaccinated against the virus.

Israel became the first country to launch its “green passport” to residents who receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that proof of vaccination “will be essential for public health services,” that include studies on vaccine effectiveness, vaccine impact, and monitoring post-vaccine adverse events.