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Social media shopping scams warning signs and tips

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social media shopping scams

 If you like shopping the sales you see on social media, think twice the next time you spot a great deal. On August 3, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported a rise in social media shopping scams. Read on to see how scammers are using social media for shopping scams.

Cookies, ads, and social media shopping scams

Let’s begin with cookies—and I’m not referring to chocolate chip or anything yummy like that. Google says, “A cookie is a small piece of text sent to your browser by a website you visit. It helps the website to remember information about your visit, like your preferred language and other settings.” So cookies are a major convenience tool for users, right? Well, yes, but that convenience comes at a very high cost. Google uses cookies from your computer for many good things. But besides all that good stuff, cookies are used to sell advertising. They’re also used to provide ‘relevant’ search results. (Seriously? Don’t even get me started on that subject!)

Recently, I was looking for a new flash attachment for my camera. Immediately after doing a little research on Amazon, I started seeing ads on Facebook for camera lighting options. An ad for an excellent product showed up in my timeline. Ever the skeptic, I found the company independently, checked their product ratings on their website and confirmed there were equally glowing reviews on Amazon. That got me more ads. In this case, the original ad was legitimate. The problem is, plenty of people are falling prey to ads that take them to fake websites.

A steal is not always a deal

According to the FBI, an increasing number of victims have not received items they purchased. They purchased these items from websites offering low prices on gym equipment, small appliances, tools and furniture. And let’s not forget face masks. No matter how much you love your social media, using it for shopping is very risky. (It’s the same for news, but that’s a different subject). A social media ad is very similar to an email solicitation—it could be legitimate, or it might be someone out to take your money and give you a shoddy product in return.

Warning signs

Beware the low price: Always suspect low prices from unknown retailers. The FBI reports that victims who ordered face masks received paper masks shipped from China, not the quality product that they ordered. Some victims of social media shopping scams were even told they needed to return the cheap masks to China to get a refund.

Always pay with a credit card: If a seller wants payment using an online money transfer service, don’t fall for it. You have zero protection with a money transfer.

Websites not using .com: Always look closely at the website address. If the domain isn’t a .com, you might be dealing with a scammer. I often use a whois lookup to see who owns a domain name. This is a free tool that can provide you with valuable information—and will also disclose those who are hiding their actual identity.

Free email address instead of company address: Anyone, repeat, anyone, can get a free email address. If you receive an email from an address that doesn’t use the business’s domain name, this could be a scammer.

If you’ve been scammed

Tip #1 Dispute the charges with your credit card company. (You used a credit card, right?) If you didn’t, contact your financial institution and ask for help.

Tip #2 File a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov.

Tip #3 Check your credit report. Once you’ve been the victim of fraudulent activity, expect it to continue. Scammers are not known for their compassion and, depending on how much information you gave them, you may have opened the door to losing more than the $10.95 you spent on those fifty-cent face masks.

If you like this scam tip, check out last month’s tip, Scam tip: free face masks—not really

Scam tip: free face masks—not really

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free face masks scam tip
Illustration depicting a red and white road sign with a scam free concept. White background.

Free face masks?

If your first reaction is, what do I have to do to get one? Think again. This is a scam in which a bad actor offers free face masks in exchange for your Medicare or Social Security number. Obviously, you know not to give out your Social Security number. Right? Please tell me you do. But a Medicare number? Why would anyone want that? It turns out, for a lot of reasons.

Medicare fraud is big business

In 2017 alone, it’s estimated that the amount of Medicare fraud was more than $50 billion. If your Medicare card falls into the wrong hands, it can be used in these scams and you might find yourself an unwitting accomplice.

Tip #1: Protect your Medicare Number and only give out the number to medical service providers you know.

Free face masks for your Medicare Number

After any disaster or national emergency, scammers look for new lures to use in their schemes. Face masks are one of those current hot items. Scammers are cashing in on the need for face masks by posing as Medicare representatives or medical service providers and offering free masks.

Tip #2: Medicare won’t call you unless you call them first.

Masks for sale!

We’ve heard plenty over the past few months about N-95 face masks. While these single-use masks are the best available, according to the CDC, these masks should be reserved for medical personnel. That hasn’t stopped the market from offering them for sale, though. The scammers, of course, know this and are selling their own version of N-95 masks on places like Facebook, Instagram, and news sites. Unfortunately, the masks they send—if they send one at all—are cheaply made paper.

Tip #3: Save your money! Make your own mask with household materials.

Tip #4: Spend wisely. If you do buy a mask, don’t buy from an ad on social media, especially Facebook (a haven for misinformation). Instead, buy from a reputable reseller.

Tip #5: Protect your money. For any purchases you make online, be sure to use a credit card. This allows you to dispute a charge if something goes wrong.

Check out last month’s contact tracing scam tip.

Scam Tip: COVID-19 Contact Tracing Scams

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Graphic courtesy CDC.gov.

It was only a matter of time before scammers realized yet another opportunity provided by COVID-19—contact tracing scams. I’m a strong believer in contact tracing as a way to help slow the spread of COVID-19, but I also know scammers will use any trick they can to steal your information. Here are a few tips to help you safely maneuver through these very stressful times.

What is contact tracing?

Contract tracing is used to identify people who have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Contact tracing can be done manually or via an app that runs on a cellphone. Once someone has been identified as having come in contact with an infected person, they are instructed to quarantine and monitor their symptoms daily.

Is it safe to cooperate?

Contact tracing does not involve collecting personal information such as social security numbers, birthdates, or immigration status. A legitimate contract tracer also will not be asking for financial information or any kind of payment. What this means is that the legitimate contact tracer won’t jeopardize your personal information or financial security.

Graphic courtesy City of Carlsbad.

Tips to avoid the scams

Tip #1: Like any other scam, this one happens via email, text message, and/or telephone. An email or text message scam will include a link, which will either download malware or take you to a fake website that will ask for personal information. Do not click that link.

Tip #2: Gone are the days when phone scams were dying out due to their cost. Now, scammers run phone banks, spoof telephone numbers, and train their operators. This makes dealing with a phone version of this scam much more difficult. However, there’s a clear dividing line. If someone asks for your social security number or other sensitive information, even if they say it’s voluntary, assume it’s a scam and hang up.

Tip #3: If you’re feeling stressed or pressured, find someone you can talk to for support. Let’s face it, people under a lot of stress do stupid things. We make bad choices.

If you need to talk to someone, you can get help at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. Learn more about stress and coping during the COVID-19 outbreak at CDC.gov.

Resurge dietary supplement —scam or the real deal?

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You’ll have to look far and wide to find a product with better reviews than the Resurge dietary supplement. It’s been a long time since I’ve covered a product like this, but I received an email touting this drug’s miracle benefits about two weeks ago. The email contained typos, bad grammar, and a questionable photo of two supposed “lab workers.” Oh, and let’s not forget about improving sleep and helping to prevent COVID-19. A little much? .

The big caveat

Let me be clear. I am not a doctor or any other kind of medical professional. I have not used this product. I am not recommending this product. And I do not have an affiliate link to the product’s website. I also cannot give you a definitive answer on whether John Barban’s Resurge dietary supplement actually works. What I can tell you is there are a number of reasons to be wary if you’re interested in the Resurge dietary supplement.

Tip #1: Beware of loosely defined FDA Approved labels

When you start looking for information on Resurge, the words “FDA Approved” show up a lot. Some websites and reviewers claim the drug is FDA Approved. Others claim, “Resurge is manufactured in the USA in an FDA approved and GMP (good manufacturing practices) certified facility under the most sterile, strict and precise standards.” (That particular statement came from the email I received.)

To begin with, the FDA regulates dietary supplements, but it does not approve them. If a marketer claims the drug is FDA Approved, find another resource. The term GMP is legitimate. It refers to labs creating pharmaceutical products consistently and maintaining quality standards. Also, the FDA does inspect labs for GMP compliance every two years. So, it’s possible this drug is produced in a GMP lab. The big problem is the lab is not identified, so nobody really knows.

Tip #2: Watch out for extravagant claims

“There’s never been anything like Resurge in the history of health.” That quote comes directly from the product’s own website, Yes, John Barban and his sister Lisa market Resurge as “the most revolutionary product in history.” Need I say more? If that comment alone doesn’t leave you skeptical, remember that the FDA warns of products with, “promises of a quick fix, for example, ‘lose 10 pounds in one week.’” Actually, for this product, the Barbans don’t make that claim. Instead, they’re in for the long haul, meaning that you must use the product between three to six months for it to be effective. And this stuff’s not cheap.

Tip #3: The sheer volume of positive reviews

I normally suggest people check online for unbiased reviews of a product before buying it. The key word there is ‘unbiased,’ and the problem with the Resurge dietary supplement is there are none. Sorry, but I get even more skeptical when NOBODY has something negative to say about a product.

Tip #4: The fake Resurge supplement marketing scams

According to one YouTube reviewer, there are a multitude of websites out there marketing Resurge under the pretense of offering a discount, but are really running a scam. He described scams in which the marketer clones the official Resurge website and then steals payment information from unsuspecting buyers. Sounds scary, right?

The reviewer went on to say he had personally used the product and that it worked. There’s only one problem—well, two. First, he says the product is FDA Approved. It’s not. See Tip #1. The other problem ties back to my initial comments about his review. After casting doubt on every website except for the “official” one, he provides a helpful a link to that site. So what’s the problem? There’s a little required disclaimer at the bottom of the page warning that links on the page may be affiliate links—which means that reviewer gets a commission every time he sells a bottle.

April scam tip: where’s my economic stimulus check?

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Example Economic Stimulus Check - coronavirus Still waiting for your coronavirus economic stimulus check? There are a number of reasons you might not have received it yet, and plenty more to be wary of offers to help expedite the process. The bottom line is that thieves know you want the money now, and they’re taking advantage of that anxiety in spades.

When will I receive my Economic Stimulus Payment?

The first batch of payments began when the IRS sent payments to Social Security recipients who filed tax returns and included direct deposit information on their returns. The second batch of checks will go to Social Security recipients who did not file 2018 or 2019 returns and receive their benefits through direct deposit. For everyone else, in early May, the IRS will begin mailing paper checks. Five million checks will go out each week and they will be sent to households with the lowest gross income first. The process will continue each week as the IRS works its way up to households with higher gross incomes. According to the House Ways and Means timetable, the entire process could take up to twenty weeks.

Beware of offers to expedite your Economic Stimulus Payment

Unfortunately, some people may need their Economic Stimulus Payment before their slot in the timetable. And therein lies the problem—and the opportunity for scammers.

Scam #1: IRS calling

No matter what you might think, hope, or dream of, the IRS is not going to call you to ask for your confidential information so they can expedite your payment. If your CallerID tells you the caller is from the IRS, it’s a scam. Don’t even answer the phone because if you do, you will engage. If you engage, you’ll be vulnerable. Scammers now have their own call centers with people who have been trained to persuade. Do not give them the opportunity.

Scam #2: Email from the IRS

The IRS does not send emails asking for information. They do not send emails with attachments.  They will not send you a link to expedite your payment. If you receive an email from the IRS, mark it as junk and trash it. Do not reply or click a link in the email because that will, at best, confirm your email address or, at worst, take you to a website that will download malware on your computer. And attachments, well, you get it. Right? 

Scam #3: Let me help you get your payment sooner

This is basically a repeat of the first two scams. The only thing that changes is the name, and quite possibly that you’ll be asked to pay a small fee to expedite your Economic Stimulus Payment. If you do this, be prepared for life in financial hell. You will be opening up yourself—and your bank account—to a very long battle against fraud.

Scam #4: The fake check

A twist on the overpayment scam, this one is bound to trap a lot of people. First off, if the IRS has your direct deposit information from your tax return, they will deposit the money directly into your bank account. If you always rely on paper (believe me, it’s not safer) you should do two things to make sure you’re not being scammed. First, make sure the check is an official government check. It should look something like the photo in this post. Second, use the IRS Economic Impact Payment tool to check the status of your payment. 

Three tips to beat COVID-19 scams

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COVID-19 scams
COVID-19 scams are ramping up. Are you ready?

It takes a special type of human being to perpetrate COVID-19 scams. And, believe me, I’m not using the word ‘special’ in a positive sense. Scammers are, once again, taking advantage of a basic human emotion—fear. 

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is part of the coronavirus family of viruses. The name is an abbreviation for “coronavirus disease 2019.” For more facts about the disease, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

In a recent FBI Public Service Announcement, the FBI stated that COVID-19 scams fall into three categories: fake CDC emails, phishing emails, and counterfeit treatments or equipment. Let’s look at each of these in more detail.

Fake CDC emails

Scammers know that people are hungry for accurate information about the current coronavirus (COVID-19). There are actually a number of coronaviruses, of which COVID-19 is the latest. But, what people want to know is, how do I avoid getting sick? For the latest accurate information, check the CDC web page at CDC.gov.

This category includes emails that offer free or paid help, but link to sites where fraudsters can download malware onto your computer. One example is  the offer to download an app that tracks COVID-19 cases worldwide. The longer the virus is around, the more outlandish I expect these claims to become. For instance, how about an app that uses your smartphone’s camera to scan for COVID-19? If marketed properly, I could see huge potential for scammers to sell this completely bogus product.

Phishing emails

True, economic stimulus checks have been approved, but the information about how to get those checks is probably unclear to many people. For the facts, visit IRS.gov. Scammers know people are confused and are sending emails offering to help you “file for” or “track” your stimulus check. Contrary to what the scammers would have you believe, the government is not sending unsolicited emails for this purpose. If you get this type of email, it’s a scam.

And then there are the related scams—charitable contributions, airline carrier refund checks, fake cures and vaccines, or fake testing. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is a brand new playground for fraudsters.

Counterfeit treatments or equipment

There are already people out there offering fake testing. Don’t be fooled into thinking there’s a magic cure or a way to test for COVID-19 that you can get from some clown who sends you an unsolicited email. As the FBI pointed out in their PSA, “Be alert to counterfeit products such as sanitizing products and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including N95 respirator masks, goggles, full face shields, protective gowns, and gloves.”

Be smart, not gullible. Three tips to avoid COVID-19 scams

Tip 1: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

Just think about this one simple rule the next time you receive an email or a call from someone making claims about their product or service. 

Tip 2: Think before you click. 

Scammers want you to feel, not think. So, before you click a link or answer a caller’s questions, fall back to Tip #1.

Tip 3: Clam up.

Never give out your personal information unless you’ve initiated contact with a known, reputable source. This applies whether you’re dealing with email, a website, or a phone caller.