Scammers Prey on Excitement Around Total Eclipse, Warns BBB
Arlington, Virginia (PRWEB) August 16, 2017 -- The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about scams taking advantage of next week’s solar eclipse. BBB has begun to see reports in BBB Scam Tracker (bbb.org/scamtracker) of eclipse-related cons, with consumers reporting fake solar eclipse glasses and travel scams.
Scammers often capitalize on the buzz surrounding major news events. This includes everything from the presidential election to the latest celebrity scandal. Scammers use the hype to trick victims into making a purchase, opening a message, or clicking a link before they have had time to thoroughly evaluate the offer or situation.
“Scammers are opportunists who take advantage of whatever is going on in the news and in the world,” said Katherine Hutt, BBB national spokesperson. “The phony and dangerous eclipse glasses are an obvious fraud, but consumers should be prepared for other possible scams as the excitement over the total eclipse escalates this week. BBB’s scam tips can help identify all the common tactics scammers use.”
For more information about eclipse scams, please visit go.bbb.org/eclipse. To learn more about scams and the techniques con artists use, see 10 Steps to Avoid Scams is at bbb.org/avoidscams.
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ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2016, people turned to BBB more than 167 million times for BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.2 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. The Council of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as home to its national and international programs on dispute resolution, advertising review, and industry self-regulation
MEDIA CONTACTS: For more information, journalists should contact Katherine Hutt (703-247-9345 or khutt(at)council.bbb.org).
Katherine Hutt, Council of Better Business Bureaus, +1 (703) 247-9345, [email protected]
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