This Halloween figures to be filled with celebration as LA County continues to open up. However, the holiday should come with a bit of caution – not only in terms of following health protocols, but also avoiding some common scams which can be frightening for consumers.
Keep your spooky season fun this year by keeping an eye out for monsters, goblins, and scammers looking to rip you off. Here are a few scams reported to DCBA and the Federal Trade Commission that you will want to avoid like a black cat crossing your path at midnight:
Trick or treat? COVID-19 vaccine records
Proof of COVID-19 vaccinations are required to enter many places in LA County, including most larger events. In most instances, you can either show your card or a digital record or file on your phone. Many consumers remain uncertain about how digital COVID-19 vaccine records work.
Scammers are looking to trick you. People are being contacted by email or text and offered a Federal vaccine record for a fee. The Federal Government does not offer a digital record or “vaccine passport.” there are no official plans to create a national vaccine verification app or certificate or passport. If someone tries to sell you a digital record of your vaccination, especially if they are asking you for payment or personal information, it’s a scam!
Here in California, it can be a simple treat. The state offers a free digital record of your COVID-19 vaccinations. Go to myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov and with a very short process, you will get your own digital proof of vaccination, enough to get you into all the biggest and best Halloween celebrations.
Also, just like with your social security card and other important personal information, don’t carry your physical vaccine record card unless you absolutely have to. It can be a hassle to replace if lost. Keep a picture of your vaccine card on your phone instead, but only share when it’s necessary and do not post it on social media.
Check with airlines, cruise lines, and event venues to see if their requirements are different than LA County’s.
“Dressed up as Your Favorite Company”
This Halloween season, the trick-or-treaters won’t be the only ones dressed up pretending to be someone else. Scammers often wear the most convincing disguises, sometimes pretending to be a company you use. And what better company to use as your disguise than the world’s most popular retailer, Amazon. The FTC reports that in one out of every three business impersonator scams, the scammer pretends to be from Amazon.
In one version of this scam, a scammer pretends to be Amazon by email. They offer to “refund” you for an unauthorized purchase but “accidentally transfer” more than promised. They then ask you to send back the difference. What really happens? The scammer moves your own money from one of your bank accounts to the other (like your Savings to Checking, or vice versa) to make it look like you were refunded. Any money you send back to “Amazon” is your money (not an overpayment) — and as soon as you send it out of your account, it becomes theirs.
Remember, when you are dealing with a company, use the contact information available directly on their website or a bill. Do not click on suggested links in unexpected emails or text messages. Check transactions closely. Refunds should go only one way – from the business to the consumer.
The Spooky Sound of Warranty Scams
What’s the scariest sound? A shriek in the distance? A glass window shattering? Creeping footsteps in the hallway?
For many people recently, that scary sound we just can’t escape is the phone ringing and then a recorded voice saying: “This is ‘Susie’ with the ‘Vehicle Service Department’ calling about your vehicle warranty.”
The message goes on to say something about your vehicle’s manufacturer’s warranty. It says they’ve sent you several notices in the mail or that you haven’t extended your warranty past the factory cut off. And, you should press a number if you’re interested in renewing your warranty, or press a different number if you want to be removed from the list.
In almost all instances, this is an illegal robocall and likely a scam. The companies behind this type of robocall are not with your car dealer or manufacturer, and the “extended warranty” they’re trying to sell you is actually a service contract that often sells for hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Don’t answer these calls. Block and report the numbers instead.
If you have a question about your vehicle or a warranty, reach out directly to your car dealer or service shop.
Just don’t trust “Susie” or other scammers. Don’t let a scam turn your celebration into a nightmare!
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