BBB warns of COVID-19 scams

The Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker has seen numerous reports of scammers impersonating well-known companies and offering COVID-19 themed discounts.

Scammers will send out a text message from a large, reputable company, such as Verizon, Netflix, or Hulu.

The message claims that, due to the pandemic, the company would like to help people out by offering them an amazing deal, which can range from free or discounted services to gift cards and cash.

All you have to do is click on the provided link.

Of course, these messages don’t really originate with that company. They come from impersonators who hope to steal your personal information.

If you click the link, you may be prompted to log into a lookalike website that scammers use to get hold of your login ID and password.

With that information, scammers can access your accounts and even make purchases using your saved payment methods.

The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to treat texts from people you don’t know or numbers you don’t recognize with caution.

If you haven’t given a company permission to text you, it’s probably a scam.

Don’t click on links from strangers.

Scammers often send shortened links that don’t let you see where they really lead in the body of their text message.

And finally, confirm deals directly with the company supposedly sending the text before you accept.

Go to the company’s official website and send them an email or call to inquire. The company can let you know if the deal is real or not.

If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker.