Florida puppy schemes up 140% amid COVID-19 pandemic
โWe love having dogs,โ Morris said with her two dogs sitting in her lap. โAnd Iโm like, โEhh, Iโm not so sure about this, because I cannot see them both beforehand.โRed flag number four. Through emails and voicemails, we asked both the seller and Dreamline Carriers if they were involved in a puppy scam. AdThrough a Google search, News 6 also found language copied verbatim from another shipping website, nearly identical in a layout to Dreamlineโs website. They have time to raise a puppy.โAccording to the BBBโs scam tracker, 254 Floridians reported a type of puppy scam last year, compared to 103 in 2019.
Donโt share COVID-19 vaccine card on social media, BBB says
All rights reserved)Vaccination record cards are shown before residents are inoculated, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, at the Isles of Vero Beach assisted and independent senior living community in Vero Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)The latest scam has to do with COVID-19 vaccine cards. Vaccination cards have personal information on them like your full name, your birthday and where you got your vaccine. AdScammers have been caught selling fake vaccination cards online in Great Britain. If you want to share the momentous occasion online, you can take a photo of your vaccine sticker or take a selfie at the clinic.
How to spot fake shopping sites and avoid being scammed
Online shopping scams are on the rise as thieves look to take advantage of the increase in people shopping online during the pandemic. Online shopping scams, like the one Black fell for, are on the rise as thieves take advantage of the surge of people flocking to the internet during the pandemic. To lure you onto the sites, scammers pay for ads on Facebook, Google and other websites. So far this year, the FTC has received more than 37,000 reports of online shopping fraud, amounting to $27 million in losses. You can also report the site on the Better Business Bureau and FTC websites, which could help others from being scammed.
COVID-19 vaccine scams at center of new crime-fighting effort
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Scammers base their strategies on the times, and according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which tracks scams and bad practices, COVID-19 is no different. Situations like this are part of the reason the Department of Homeland Security has relaunched a crime-fighting effort called Operation Stolen Promise 2.0. According to a recent press release, agents are now โpreparing for a surgeโ in fraudulent COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Operation Stolen Promise 2.0 is a spinoff of an effort earlier this year, aimed at dismantling COVID-19 scams we have already seen nationwide: scams like fake COVID-19 tests, stimulus check fraud, and fake PPE equipment. You can also report scams to our your local Better Business Bureau by visiting Scam Tracker.
Better Business Bureau warns of online puppy scams ahead of holidays
The Better Business Bureau is warning of a spike in online pet scams during the pandemic and to be on guard if youโre considering buying a pet over the holidays. There were more reports of fraudulent pet websites in the U.S. and Canada in April than the first three months leading up to the start of the pandemic. The Better Business Bureau recommends seeing the pet in person before paying any money. Do a reverse-image search of the pet photo and search for a distinctive phrase in the pet description. Do some research and find out the fair price for the breed you want and consider adopting from a local animal shelter instead.
Warning: Think twice before sharing your senior photo on social media
The Better Business Bureau says it โseems like harmless fun,โ but you should think twice before sharing your senior photo online. The BBB suggests the following tips to keep you safe on social media. Review your security settings. Check your security settings on all social media platforms to see what you are sharing and with whom you are sharing. If you are nervous about something you shared possibly opening you up to fraud, review and change your security settings for banking and other websites.