Pfizer says phony COVID-19 vaccines are turning up outside the U.S.

Pfizer says it is aware of counterfeit versions of its COVID-19 vaccine, which the drugmaker developed with BioNTech, as criminals seek to cash in on global demand for the shots that continues to outpace supply.

The phony versions of its vaccine were found in Mexico and Poland, a Pfizer spokesperson said in an email to CBS MoneyWatch, confirming an earlier report from the Wall Street Journal about the fakes. The vials recovered in Mexico also had fraudulent labeling, while a substance inside vials in Poland was likely an anti-wrinkle treatment, according to the company. Pfizer is working with governments, law enforcement, health care providers and others to combat the illegal activity. The pharmaceutical firm urged patients not to buy vaccines online, stressing that no legitimate vaccine is sold that way. People can only get safely and legitimately immunized against the coronavirus at official vaccination sites or at certified health care providers.