Australians are being warned criminals are making and circulating fraudulent COVID-19 vaccine certificates, with one cyber security expert saying it could put lives at risk.

Brian Hay, an award-winning cybercrime expert, says the “simple reality is that communities will suffer by this errant behaviour”.

Criminals across the world have been gathering intelligence to produce and distribute fake vaccination certificates.

Certificates would come in the form of digital templates or passports which would be used to prove a person has received the jab for COVID-19.

“They can be used by industry, airlines, government agencies, private health insurers,” Mr Hay said.

“This would be a big money making scheme for the crooks.”