A Free Public Service

December 16, 2024

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

During the holidays, adding a dog, cat, or other adorable animal to the family is top of mind for many, and scammers know it. While there are lots of fur babies waiting for their forever home, scammers try to take advantage of the situation by posting fake ads for pets — all designed to take your money and leave you in the doghouse. Here’s what to know.

Scammers are posting ads (particularly for puppies), pretending these precious pooches are for sale. You might see these ads online or on streetcorners — sometimes advertising purebred puppies for a few hundred dollars when they often cost thousands — pushing you to act fast before they’ve gone to other homes. The scammer hopes the irresistibly cute puppy picture they posted will be enough to draw you in, and they’ll insist you pay for it up front. But if you pay, not only will you never see that puppy (who might not even exist), but you might also never see that money again.

If you’re thinking of getting a furry friend for yourself or a loved one:

• Do some research. Search online for the name of the seller or business and words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” See what others are saying.
• Watch how you’re asked to pay. Only scammers say you must pay with gift cards, a payment app, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram since it’s hard to get your money back. Find out what to do if you sent money to a scammer.
• Consider a local rescue or animal shelter. Animals of all breeds and ages are waiting to be adopted. An online search will point you to them, where you’ll be able to adopt for a small fee.

If you spot one of these scams, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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A Free Public Service

December 10, 2024

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

REFUNDS FOR FORTNITE UNWANTED ITEMS

Attribution: US FTC.gov  

Avoid scams related to the FORTNITE refunds program.

The FTC is sending out over 600,000 payments worth $72 million to Fortnite gamers charged for unwanted items.

If you submitted a valid claim by October 8, 2024, you’ll get the payment via the method you requested. If you get a check, cash it within 90 days. If you get a PayPal payment, accept it within 30 days. You don’t need to do anything else to get your payment.

If you submitted a claim after October 8, 2024, the FTC will review your claim. You don’t need to do anything else.

If you think you’re eligible for a refund and haven’t already submitted a claim, go to ftc.gov/Fortnite to learn if you’re eligible and how to apply. All claims are due by Friday, January 10, 2025.

The FTC will never ask you to pay money to file a claim. If you get an email or text message that tells you to click a link or pay to get your refund, it’s a scam. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Get more information about the FTC’s Fortnite refunds program at ftc.gov/Fortnite.

If you submitted a claim after October 8, 2024, the FTC will review your claim. You don’t need to do anything else.

If you think you’re eligible for a refund and haven’t already submitted a claim, go to ftc.gov/Fortnite to learn if you’re eligible and how to apply. All claims are due by Friday, January 10, 2025.

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A Free Public Service

December 9, 2024

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

Maybe you’re pre-planning a funeral for yourself or a loved one and decide to get some pricing information by calling a few funeral providers. Or you need to make urgent arrangements for a loved one who passed away in another state. When you’re making funeral arrangements, you have a right to get funeral pricing information over the phone.

A new FTC staff report about funeral providers’ practices revealed that it can often be hard to get clear and accurate price information over the phone. FTC staff made calls to funerals homes at all times of day. They were unable to get funeral price information by phone from some providers. For others, staff had to make several calls, especially after hours.

When FTC staff did get price information by phone, some providers gave different prices for the same services on different calls. Others gave out estimated prices or price ranges, instead of specific prices. And some didn’t disclose required third-party fees or government fees unless asked.

The Funeral Rule gives you the right to get accurate information over the phone. If you’re researching funeral costs by phone

• Ask the funeral provider what types of services they offer, how much these services cost and what’s included in the price. If they offer a package of goods and services, ask about itemized prices. They must let you buy only the services you want and need.
• Ask if there will be other costs. For example, fees to transport the body, get required permits or death certificates, or place obituary notices.

If a funeral provider won’t give you accurate price information over the phone, try calling another provider. To learn more, check out Shopping for Funeral Services by Phone or Online.

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