OPINION: Disasters can bring out scammers

Disasters tend to bring out scammers, identity thieves and other criminals, and the recent flooding in Ruidoso will be no exception.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Mexico has formed a new working group and will show ”zero tolerance for those who seek to steal from disaster victims or misuse funds meant for recovery.”

The office warns specifically about these types of scams that pop up in the aftermath of disasters:

• Individuals not affected by the flooding trying to claim disaster benefits.
• Creation of fraudulent charities or the diversion of donations meant for legitimate relief organizations.
• Fraudulent applications for rebuilding grants and loans.

The new working group includes a variety of federal agencies that will coordinate with state, local and tribal law enforcement.

“Fraudulent activity undermines recovery efforts and diverts critical resources away from genuine victims,” the office says.

Those who suspect a scam at work can call the National Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or send an email to disaster@leo.gov.

Confusion over tariffs can lead to scams

Online shopping is getting more scam-prone due to confusion over on-again, off-again trade tariffs, the Better Business Bureau is warning.

Shoppers particularly targeted are those who have been persuaded by a “sponsored ad” or unfamiliar website hawking goods. Fake sellers claim the shipment is stuck in customs due to tariffs or new international regulations — excuses that are increasingly used to delay or ignore refund requests, the BBB says.

In fact, often the customer is asked to cough up even more money after placing the order, which, of course, will never arrive.

The BBB cautions that shoppers can be easily tricked by this because ”the seller’s website … looks professional, the price seems reasonable and checkout is quick and easy.”

For starters, you should be suspicious of such tariff-related excuses. “U.S. consumers are not typically required to pay tariffs after placing an order,” the BBB says.

Here are tips for shopping online safely:

• Know that it’s not just legitimate companies that sponsor ads on social media or search engines — scammers do so as well. That means you should do your research before purchasing. especially if it’s a company you’ve never heard of. Try searching for the company with key words like “scam” or “review” to check for any reported issues. Look for an address on the website and see if such an address exists.
• Check for suspicious elements like poor website design, poor grammar, failure to provide contact information or unusual payment requests.
• Legitimate sellers will not ask for additional shipping or “customs payments” after a sale is completed. Stop communication if this happens and contact your credit card company.
• Save records, including a screenshot of the confirmation email and tracking information. This will bolster your case if you need to file a dispute with your credit card company or report a scam.

Contact Ellen Marks at emarks@abqjournal.com if you are aware of what sounds like a scam. To report a scam to law enforcement, contact the New Mexico Consumer Protection Division at 505-490-4060. Complaints can be filed electronically at nmag.gov/contact-us/file-a-complaint/