Fake Osha 10 Card

Legitimate providers use security holograms (like those on a driver’s license) to prevent duplication. Fake cards usually have a cheap, flat sticker that peels off, or no hologram at all.

First, let’s clarify the legitimate item. The OSHA 10 card (officially known as the Department of Labor (DOL) card) is proof that a worker has completed a 10-hour safety course designed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. There are two main versions:

Critically, OSHA does not issue these cards directly. They are issued by authorized Outreach Trainers (independent instructors) through OSHA-authorized training providers. A real card features a unique serial number, the trainer’s ID, and the DOL logo.

Scammers exploit the fact that many new workers don’t know this system. They sell glossy cards that look official but are not registered in any legitimate database. fake osha 10 card

Scammers exploit a loophole: OSHA does not maintain a public, searchable database of every cardholder.

To verify a card, an employer must:

Because of this lag, scammers create fake verification websites. When you scan the QR code on a fake card, it takes you to a website like "osha-verify[.]com" (fake) instead of "osha.gov" (real). The fake site confirms the card is "valid" even though no training occurred. Legitimate providers use security holograms (like those on

A common fake card trick is stating "Never Expires." While OSHA does not have a legal expiration date for the 10-hour card, many employers, unions, and states (like New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts) require refreshers every 3 to 5 years. Fakes often claim "Lifetime Guarantee" to sound appealing.

These are printed on plastic stock using home printers. The QR code on the back either goes to a fake website or nowhere at all. The trainer number is usually made up or belongs to a retired instructor. These are often sold on social media or flea markets.

In extreme cases, especially involving repeat offenses or injury, prosecutors have charged workers with identity theft and forgery. In 2019, a New Jersey contractor was sentenced to six months in federal prison for selling over 1,000 fake OSHA cards. While buyers usually get probation, a criminal record destroys a construction career. Critically, OSHA does not issue these cards directly

Many scammers print a "wall certificate" and cut it down to wallet size. Real OSHA 10 wallet cards are rarely printed in-house; they are professionally manufactured.

OSHA and the Department of Labor have gotten increasingly sophisticated in weeding out fraud. Here is how to spot a counterfeit: