Whenever there is a crisis of any kind, scammers come out of the woodwork. The recent coronavirus pandemic has been no exception. Consumer fraud has been rampant since the worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus in late 2019. According to official government statistics, coronavirus-related scams have cost consumers nearly $20 million dollars thus far, and this number is expected to increase for as long as the virus persists. Luckily for consumers, however, these scams are easy to spot if you know what to look for. If you familiarize yourself with the following coronavirus scams, you can greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of consumer fraud during the pandemic.
Phishing Scams
Phishing scams involve fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information from consumers via email, text, and other platforms. These scams often entice consumers to click on fraudulent links or attachments. These links and attachments then either request personal information from consumers or allow scammers to gain access to consumers’ devices in order to steal such information.
Prepayment/Advanced Fee Scams
Consumers are shopping at home more frequently due to the coronavirus. In order to take advantage of this, scammers have been running prepayment/advanced fee scams. With this type of scam, an individual or business asks a consumer to electronically pay fees upfront for services or goods that will never be provided.
Internet Sale Scams
Internet sale scams are the most common type of consumer fraud. Although there are many legitimate online travel and shopping websites, consumers must be careful when spending money on the internet. With internet sale scams, scammers request payment for fake online products with preloaded debit cards, money orders, or wire transfers. Additional red flags for internet sale scams include businesses with mail drop or post office boxes, non-working or unanswered telephone numbers.
Shortage Scams
Finally, there are shortages of many types of items right now, including hand sanitizer, toilet paper, masks, and rubber gloves. Scammers are currently re-selling these products online at extremely inflated prices. This practice, known as as price gouging, is illegal, and scammers often combine this practice with the sale of goods that are non-existent, damaged, or used.
Contact Our Hackensack Consumer Fraud Attorney
If you are a victim of consumer fraud, you need an experienced Hackensack consumer fraud attorney on your side. At Rosenblatt Law PC, we are dedicated to combating consumer fraud in all its forms. We provide our valued clients with first-rate legal representation, and when you become our client, we’ll do everything in our power to ensure that you are compensated for your losses. Our legal team has a reputation for obtaining favorable settlements and jury verdicts for our clients in all types of consumer protection cases. Therefore, if you need the assistance of an experienced consumer fraud attorney in New Jersey, contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.
