March 25th, 2020- The Better Business Bureau is warning of a fresh spike in scams and rip-offs in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. BBB president Steve Bernas says recent reports of scams and misinformation have been off the charts.
“I’d normally say I’ve been there, done that,” Bernas said. “But in my 32-year career, I’ve never seen so many scams coming out of the woodwork in all sorts of industries. Normally if it’s a disaster, it’s the construction industry or if it’s financial, it’s the loan industry. This is affecting everyone.”
A range of new scams has surfaced, including phony messages about money from the government, fake discounts on certain services, and miracle cures for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Bernas advises never to click on a link in a text message or email from a source you don’t know. He also warns against ever paying fees and charges upfront for any arrangement for loans or assistance money.
