Beware of these face mask scams

12 Scams of the Holidays: Beware of these face mask scams this holiday season.

WATCH OUT!

FAKE COMPANIESARE TRYING TO...SELL YOU....WITH STEEP DISCOUNTS...ON...FAKE PERSONAL PROTECTIVEEQUIPMENT.SCRIPPS REPORTER.....MALLORYHAS THE DETAILS...ON DAY ONE OF OUR...-12- SCAMS....OF THE HOLIDAYS!!THIS ITEM DOESN'T TYPICALLYMAKE HOLIDAY WISHLISTS - BUTTHIS YEAR - IS DIFFERENT.MASKS AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVEEQUIPMENT ARE IN HIGH DEMAND.ANGIE BARNETT.PRESIDENT & CEO, BBB SERVINGGREATER MARYLAND: 6:11 ASPEOPLE ARE GEARING UP FOR THEHOLIDAYS TO PROVIDE PPE FORTHEIR GUESTS AND FAMILYGATHERINGS AND SOCIALGATHERINGS, WHICH SHOULD BEDO WHAT THEY CAN TO TRICK YOUINTO BUYING FROM THEM AB: 5:54WE HAD A BUSINESS HERE INMARYLAND THAT ACTUALLY ORDEREDPPE ONLINE THOUGHT IT WAS ALEGITIMATE RETAILER AND LOSTTHOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OFDOLLARS A SMALL BUSINESSCOULDN'T AFFORD TO LOSE :15IT'S NOT JUST BUSINESSES ANDCONSUMERS SENDING MONEY TO THEWRONG PEOPLETHE FBI HASRECEIVED REPORTS FROM STATEGOVERNMENTS ATTEMPTING TOPROCURE VENTILATORS OR PPE ANDWIRED MONEY TO FRAUDULENTSELLERS.BY THE TIME THEY REALIZED ITTHE MONEY HAD BEENTRANSFERRED OUTSIDE THE REACHOF U-S LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WASUNRECOVERABLE.AB: 7:49 WE ALWAYS SAY ANDHOLIDAYS ARE SO IMPORTANT,SLOW DOWN TO INVESTIGATE, DOYOUR RESEARCH AS YOU'RE LOOKINGBECAUSE IT'S SO EASY TO GETMISDIRECTED TO A FAKE WEBSITEOF ANY MEDICAL PRODUCT BEFOREBUYING A LITTLE RESEARCH CANYOU HELP AVOID LOSING MONEY ..LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TOANGELICA GOMEZ...ANGELICA GOMEZ, PPE SCAMVICTIM:4:31 ALMOST $175 :02 WHO WASTRYING TO BUY MASKS TO PROTECTHER FAMILY.HER SONS AND HUSBAND ALL HAVEUNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS.AG: 5:40 THEY'RE CREATING FALSEHOPE BECAUSE IT'S NOT REAL TOBEGIN WITH :03THAT WAS....MALLORY SOFASTAII.THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE...IS GOING AFTER CRIMINALS...GOING AFTER CRIMINALS...ATTEMPTING TO EXPLOIT THEPANDEMIC.IF YOU'RE THE VICTIM....OF A SCAM.....INVOLVING "COVID-19"...YOU CAN REPORT IT TO...THE NATIONAL CENTER FORDISASTER FRAUD.VCOSTCO WILL KEEP ITS SPECIALHOURS FOR SENIORS UNTIL FURTHER