As scams usually follow the news, America’s fear of Ebola has spurred new opportunity for cons and scams.
The Better Business Bureau Alaska Regional Manager Michelle Tabler said many phone and internet scams are offering experimental, natural, and miracle cures.
Tabler: “And in this case there is the fear of this ebola disease, so they are just preying on people’s fears and offering things that don’t exist yet. One of the things to to beware of, we want consumers to be cautious that charities are going to start popping up, just like they do after every disaster.”
Before purchasing or using products of a medical nature, consumers should always check with a health care professional.
The BBB gave some tips for consumers:
- Check charities for their 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
- Read the fine print
- Sites with a history of updates on their charity are likely more reliable
For additional tips on how to avoid those scams, click here.