GRAND RAPIDS, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of West Michigan is warning citizens to be aware of various scams popping up in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Troy Baker of the BBB says that some new scams online involve selling face masks.
“We all want to find ways to keep ourselves and our families safe, and face masks sound like a great way to do it,” Baker said. “The problem is you can’t get them. We’ve seen the news, hospitals don’t have enough. Websites have popped up claiming that, not only do they have them in stock, they’re on sale and available to you. Normally $70, on sale for $25.”
In reality, the scam takes the money of the customer and never actually ships the masks out.
“You’re just gonna get ripped off if you send these people money,” Baker said. “The complaints that we’ve received are that they’re taking your money and running. Our belief is that they are not local at all.”
However, face masks are not the only COVID-19 scam to appear lately.
“We’re seeing offers for at-home coronavirus testing kits,” Baker said. “Anybody who has watched the news knows that the tests are limited, so the idea that you can buy one online and do it at home just isn’t legitimate.”
A similar scam recently came under fire by Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office, who issued a Cease and Desist order to two West Michigan businesses for selling phony “Coronavirus Defender Patches.”
Furthermore, scams are also being sent in the form of text messages that contain malicious links.
“We’re also seeing reports of text messages over the last week, allegedly from the Federal Government,” Baker said. “They want you to click on a link to get your stimulus check. I don’t know the exact way [the Federal Government] is going to determine who gets the checks and how you get them, but I can bet pretty safely that it’s not going to be by text message. If anyone sends you a text message saying ‘Click here to sign up to get your stimulus check,’ that’s probably going to be a scam.”
Meanwhile, the BBB is working closely with the Attorney General’s office on price gouging matters, which were reported to be almost 1,600 Tuesday. Price gouging under a situation like the COVID-19 outbreak can be punishable by law if businesses are:
- Charging the consumer a price that is grossly in excess of the price at which similar property or services are sold; and
- Causing coercion and duress as the result of the time and nature of a sales presentation.
“If you find a company that’s price gouging, report it to the BBB, report it to the Attorney General’s office,” Baker said. “We’re working hand-in-hand to combat this. Take a photo of the price or your receipt and send that along as well. That evidence is going to help in the effort to crack down on this.”
Baker says that these two organizations should be contacted about scams and gouging and not local law enforcement, as the AG’s office is the one handling the bulk of consumer complaints.
“Anything that’s reported to us is going to be forwarded to [the Attorney General’s office],” Baker said. “Your reports will get two places if you send them to us. This really hurts everybody, not just consumers, legitimate businesses as well.”
More information on COVID-19 scams can be found online at the Better Business Bureau website.
To report any instances of price gouging, consumers can file a complaint online or by calling the Consumer Protection tip line at 877-765-8388.
Hours of operation are between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
News of the COVID-19 outbreak is changing rapidly. Citizens can keep up to date with the latest information at https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/ or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
