Spot the Scammers and Fakes
Are you about to make a purchase online?
Sites like Trust Pilot and Experian provide information, reporting, research, reviews, and analysis on websites, domain names, and e-commerce platforms, advising readers if these are legit, safe, and trustworthy.
Besides educational articles, Trust Pilot also offers a website validator, a free tool that helps you check the trustworthiness level of any website. The validator shows suspicious sites and also provides reviews of web sites. The site covers every major industry, from travel, real estate, auto, and insurance, to communications, employment, and social media.
You can also use AARP to report a scam. The site’s Fraud Watch Network tracks scams in real time, providing a list of current email and imposter scams. The AARP fraud helpline, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. Knowledge gives you power over scams. Their Fraud Watch Network provides reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts, and fraud prevention resources to help you spot and avoid scams. Visit www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud.
Stay vigilant! Older Americans are increasingly targeted by scammers everyday. Do not give scammers money, no matter what returns they promise! If a deal or opportunity sounds too good to be true, guess what? It’s probably a scam.
One seemingly harmless tactic a scammer will use is to purchase something you may have posted online. They will pay for the transaction using a fake check or money order for an amount way over the purchase price, as if by mistake. They will then ask you to refund the overpayment. You will loose your money before the check or money order has even been verified. Don’t fall for it! Cease communicating with these individuals.
Always do your research. Search for the person or company online. You can usually find traces of their previous scams online.
If you have questions about the validity of a website, go to www.trustpilot.com.
