Q13 recently reported on an event
scam that has victimized several people out of their money. The “organizers”
used the web and social media to advertise a “Haunted Booze Cruise” for October
28. Then the organizer cancelled and Q13 reports that people who signed up have
not received the promised refund and are having trouble contacting the
organizer.
While this was a Halloween event,
this is a lesson that can be applied throughout the year. The Washington State
Attorney General’s Office says that it receives many complaints about phantom
events, including fun runs, booze cruises, etc. An Attorney General spokesman said
that this scam is becoming “more and more common.”
Here are some tips to avoiding an
event scam:
·
Look for specifics. If there is no specific time
or place for the event, that might be a clue that it is a phantom event.
·
Be suspicious of any photos on event web sites.
Are they stock photos that you can find on other web pages?
·
Do some investigation before signing up. For
example, is it a booze cruise? Who is providing the boat? Call them up to
confirm the date, etc. Is it a fun run at a local city or county park? Call the
parks department and confirm that there will be a fun run.
·
When paying, use your credit card, not your
debit card. With your credit card, if the organizers skip out on you, you can
dispute the charge and have an easier time to get your money back.
So, have fun this Halloween, but unfortunately
you might need to do a little bit of investigative work to ensure that you are
signing up for a legitimate event.
KCPQ 13 News:
And if you plan a traditional
Halloween with trick or treating, here are some tips for a safe Halloween
night,
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