Scammers continue to use the internet
to try to steal your money and your identity. Recently, the Wisconsin Better
Business Bureau investigated COVID-19 websites and found websites that appear fraudulent.
It found fraudulent web sites
selling sanitizers, disinfectants, masks, and other related products.
It also found that the fraudulent websites
are often created recently and keep contact information to the minimum. The
websites are taken down quickly, presumably after collecting money and/or personal
information.
Starting its investigation from
complaints that it received, the Wisconsin BBB reported on three of the sites
as examples. In two of the sites, complainants ordered masks and did not
receive them after ordering. One of the sites has been taken off the web. The sites
either listed no address or phone numbers or fake addresses and phone numbers.
The BBB recommends that you take
the following precautions when looking for COVID-19 related products,
·
Know who you are dealing with. Check spelling and domain names. Google the
website to see if others have been complaining. Look for other tell-tale signs
such as poor grammar, lack of information, and capital letters in the middle of
sentences.
·
Ensure the website address begins with
https://. Also, check the address bar for a “not secure” message. A
trustworthy online seller will have a secure domain, keeping your information
safe from hackers. While some fraudulent websites may use https you at least
know that the signal between your computer and the website is protected from
hacking.
·
Check the age of a website’s domain. Use
a website like Whois to check whether a website was established recently.
Because crises like the coronavirus provide new avenues for scammers to take
advantage of the public, they will often establish new websites that match
current events.
·
Check for an about page and a contact us
section. Scammers are creative, but they don’t often take the time to
fabricate a full brand history like you would find on a company’s website “about
us” page. They may fabricate contact information, but BBB recommends ensuring
the phone numbers and email addresses are both legitimate and responsive.
·
Phishing emails often lack personalization.
Legitimate companies communicate with customers using their name, but scammers do
not often know their victims. Many email scams will begin with a non-personalized
salutation, like “Dear sir or madam.”
·
Check a business at BBB.org. Whether the
website offers face masks or toilet paper, verify its legitimacy before you
make a purchase or provide your personal information.
·
Always pay by credit card. When
purchasing any product or service through a website, always use a credit card
as your payment method. If you pay by credit card online, your transaction will
be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. If the product arrives defective
or does not arrive at all, you can dispute the charge on your credit card and
temporarily withhold payment while the creditor investigates them.
Better Business Bureau:
ZDNet:
KGO-TV, San Francisco:
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