COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — April Fools’ Day is full of fun and games until it’s gone.
The Better Business Bureau is warning people of a possible scam on Prank Holiday.
“Trust your gut. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” says Jessica Hamlin, director of communications at the Better Business Bureau.
Hamlin said scammers often use the holidays as an opportunity, so those who aren’t careful can feel like fools.
Hamlin said the trick could be by phone or email. She said people often fall victim when they’re in a hurry and don’t do their research. Sometimes, she said, she appears in a familiar form.
“Personally, I’ve seen a lot of fun April Fool’s pranks come out from a lot of the brands I follow and enjoy,” Hamlin said. “It’s very easy to impersonate that account. Basically, this means your information has been hacked and your information is at risk.”
The BBB’s best advice is to avoid clicking on emails from unknown senders, don’t disclose personal information, and don’t feel pressured to act right away. Hamlin also said to do your research before making a purchase.
“So it’s a good idea to go to resources like BBB.org and look at reviews, where all reviews are vetted to make sure they come from genuine people who have interacted with the company. ,” Hamlin said.
Hamlin said it’s also best to make purchases using something trackable like a credit card instead of cash or Venmo. She said that if something happens, people can get their money back and find out who the real fool is.
