Call 4 Action
Checking out online scams
MILWAUKEE - Is that product or service that you saw online for real, or is it just a scam? How would you know and where can you go to check things out?
Here's more information about how you can spot a scam before you get taken.
What are some tell tale signs that it could be a scam?
Sometimes, it is hard to know if something is legitimate just by looking at a website, but be particularly careful if the company offering the product or service:
- Appears to be located outside of the country
- The information is vague, contains spelling or grammatical errors, or seems too good to be true
- There is no street address or phone number for the company
- There is a lot of fine print or grayed out information on the site
Where can you go to research a company, product, or offer?
One of the best ways to check things out is to do a Google search, typing in words like "complaint" or" problem", followed by the name of the company, product or offer.
You can also check with our Call 4 Action office, the Better Business Bureau, Wisconsin Department of Consumer Protection, or Federal Trade Commission.
There are also websites like yelp.com or ripoffreport.com where people will report about their personal experience with a company.
What do you do if you cannot find any other information about a company or their offer?
Trust your gut instinct, and think about the potential consequences you could face for taking a chance and sending money or releasing your personal information.
Follow the golden rule: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
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